New vision for downtown Vernon market

VERNON – Downtown market activities could look a little different in Vernon this summer.

The Downtown Vernon Association proposed changes to the Avenue Market, which previously ran on Friday evenings during the summer months. Executive director Lara Konkin told Vernon council today, Feb. 9, the vision for 2016 is to offer two separate events, a Saturday market in Cenotaph Park and a Friday evening market once a month over the summer.

Konkin said the market in Cenotaph Park would run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May to September. Farmers would be the focus of the market, but downtown merchants would be encouraged to participate by using the sidewalk space in front of their shops.

The Friday night market is proposed to run on May 27, June 24, July 29, and Aug. 26. Only one block of Main Street (30 Avenue) would be used at a time.

“We would rotate that market four times throughout the year,” Konkin said.

Konkin said the proposals address concerns from previous years around parking, road closures, and undesired impacts on businesses.

Both initiatives are aimed at boosting foot traffic and vibrancy in the downtown core.

Vernon council will consider the proposal and discuss it at the next council meeting Feb. 22.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.