Fourth Street closure approved for La Grande Farmers' Market

La Grande, Oregon (April 9, 2010) - In a unanimous decision Wednesday evening, the La Grande City Council approved a request by the La Grande Farmers' Market to close Fourth Street between the La Grande Public Library and Max Square during Saturday market hours.

Fourth Street will now be closed from the intersection with Adams to just before the alley behind Mamacita's Restaurant every Saturday the market is open from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.  With the road closed the La Grande Farmers' Market will be able to accommodate more vendors and more customers. The market customers will have more room for shopping, visiting, eating and listening to music including more seating. According to the Market Manager Beth Wasley, "These benefits are welcome, but the main reason for the closure was safety" Wasley continued, "That section of Fourth Street was very congested during market hours what with vendors selling from their stalls, visitors trying to get parking and shoppers trying to shuttle their purchases to their vehicles.  Last year we had a near accident with a child running between two vendors' trucks and into the road.  With the street blocked we can avoid any accidents and customers can carry their goods to their rigs with ease."

In order to get this request approved, the city asked that Farmers' Market contact and receive written statements from adjacent and impacted businesses within one block of the closure.  Manager Wasley did visit all 15 businesses and received solid support  for the idea.  The Market was also required to come up with a signage plan in conjunction with La Grande Public Works, and then finally they needed to get the stamp of approval from the La Grande Police Department and Fire Station. "Everyone involved seemed eager to help us get this done," Wasley said.  

Parking will be available on the back half of that section of Fourth Street, in the Library parking lot and along Jefferson Street.