Opening Day: Getting it right

Durham Farmers Market

Regular readers of DE know that there's no love lost between me and the Durham Parks and Recreation Department. That's one reason why it's especially gratifying to be able to write this post.

Kudos and congratulations to DPR, the Durham Farmers Market, SEEDS, Durham Central Park, Ellen Cassilly, and everyone else involved in the creation of the new Farmers Market pavilion in Durham Central Park. Today's grand opening celebration was the culmination of several years of hard work and volunteer efforts on the part of literally too many people to even begin to enumerate.



Farmer and DFM member Ken Dawson

Yeah, it was a bit on the chilly side, but the crowd had no trouble listening to a variety of speakers thank all of the community supporters of the market who have helped it grow, in 8 years, from a handful of vendors selling out of the back of their pickups in the dirt parking lot of the old ballpark to the beautiful new pavilion, complete with kitchen and restroom facilities, in Durham Central Park. Ken Dawson, above, a founding member of DFM, reminded everyone of the many benefits to the community and to the planet, of growing, shopping, and eating locally.



Elected officials and staff, from left: Council members Mike Woodard, Diane Cattoti, and Cora Cole-McFadden, Assistant City Attorney Sherry Rosenthal, Assistant City Manager Wanda Page, Council Member Thomas Stith, City Manager Patrick Baker.

The Farmers Market, over the past couple of years, has become one of the social centers of Durham life. With the new pavilion, it's going to be even more so.

And more enjoyable than it's ever been.

Congratulations on a job well done.