First phase of farmers' market project nears end Posted On: Sunday, Apr. 27 2008 05:29 AM By Don Bolding
Killeen Daily Herald

A farmers' market is about as earthy as most modern enterprises get, and on Earth Day last week, members of the current class of Leadership Killeen invited civic leaders to a ceremony to plant Freedom Rose bushes at the Santa Fe Park gazebo to mark the beginning of visible efforts to revitalize Killeen's own market.

Leadership Killeen is an annual class of emerging community leaders who study the community's structure. One of the highlights of the course is a class project to improve the community. Typical projects have supported charitable or civic-improvement organizations in some way, but the 30 members of this class have undertaken to build the downtown farmers' market into a showpiece, an endeavor that will take several years and up to $100,000.

Project chairwoman Andrea Howard said about 80 percent of the members approved it. It will be a long haul, but the idea is backed by the consulting firm HyettPalma's action agenda for downtown revitalization, and the group has a plan to keep the engine chugging.

The first of three phases of the project, clean-up and fix-up, will climax Saturday with a workday beginning at 8 a.m. to clean the area, highlighted by a hamburger-and-hot-dog cookout for donations beginning at noon. Kickoff chairman John Lohse and his family's band will provide music. The morning's work, described at the Tuesday ceremony by landscaping chairman Michael Brannon, will include replacing some wood, pressure-washing, sanding and staining the gazebo, removing trash, planting some vegetation, and repairing the Farmer's Market sign. Brannon, who has drawn up a plan for the market, thanked Keep Killeen Beautiful for agreeing to plant a vegetative screen along the back fence to separate the park from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks.

Phase two will include repairs to the sidewalk and gravel area for vendors, and phase three will be to place vendor stalls to facilitate the display of fruits and vegetables. The work also will include additional signage, a covered walkway on either side of the gazebo and restrooms. Also planned are additional parking and an area behind the gazebo for community events all year long.

The Leadership Killeen Committee is seeking to become a subcommittee of Keep Killeen Beautiful, whose parent organization is Killeen Volunteers Inc., a certified nonprofit group. The move would provide continued official organization and greater opportunities to apply for corporate and foundation grants, some of which are already being sought. So far, the committee has $3,000 in a fund with the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, according to Tammy Sanchez, the chamber's director of programs.

Other committee chairs are Michael Pressler, marketing; Maj. Marilyn Walls, fundraising; and Diane Drussell, co-leader with Howard and vendor committee leader.

Project leaders are prepared for the project to take three or four years.

The official existence of the Farmer's Market dates from the first permit issued on May 26, 1992, according to city secretary Paula Miller, although informal cart- and truck-bed sales may date from the city's founding. Now, only two or three vendors appear, sometimes at irregular hours, although the market is open from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday. Two of the regulars include former Army food inspector Curtis Holman and culinary teacher Ferrell Davis.

Drussell has started her work by contacting regular vendors at the Temple and Belton farmer's markets as well as drumming up support among the current Killeen vendors. She said most have expressed interest but are guarded about it until physical work really gets off the ground.

City downtown project manager Beverly Zendt said, "The committee had to get permission from the railroad to build on that site, and they granted it very quickly. That was an exciting milestone. The city waived all permitting fees, and the community services department will help with irrigation. I think the partnership with the city will keep building as time goes along."

She and Pressler, first general manager of the local Shilo Inn, both celebrated the role of a farmer's market in promoting organic farming and environmental consciousness. Pressler has developed a logo to be placed on canvas shopping bags, to be available for a donation.

"This will raise awareness of the location and create a downtown symbol," he said.

Contact Don Bolding at dbolding@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7557.