Saturday marks the beginning of the outdoor season for local farmers' markets, but the city is still trying to dust off its own market plan.
This winter, the city began developing the concept of a central market zone centred on city hall and Veterans' Plaza where the Prince George Farmers' Market, Wilson Square Community Market and other community events could set up.
But a March 30 decision by city council granted a highway occupancy permit for Third Avenue at George Street to the Wilson Square Community Market Association for the year, after the group protested moving to the city hall space, means the public market concept is currently in flux.
"We're working on that to see how we can accommodate certain users," said Ian Wells, the city's general manager of planning and development.
According to the original proposal, sections of George Street and Sixth and Seventh Avenues adjacent to city hall would be closed to vehicles on market Saturdays to allow for more than 200 vendor spaces with the green space open to the public.
"I guess we'll look at it and see how much land we actually need for this, make sure that we're not just creating inconveniences for the public," Wells said.
For the time being the Prince George Farmers' Market, which was in favour of the public market concept, will add about 30 additional seasonal vendors to fill out its outdoor space, said PGFMA president Randall Stasiuk.
The market, in its 20th year, operates year round at its 1074 Sixth Ave. location beside The Keg and has a focus on locally sourced or made goods. It's open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will feature live music, barbecue and regular events through the season.
The Wilson Square Community Market is also beginning its outdoor season outside the Prince George courthouse on May 2. Between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., about 30 vendors will be available.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond will be on hand for a ribbon and cake cutting. There are a variety of events lined up throughout the month of May, including a seed competition beginning May 16 and an art day on May 30, said Wilson Square Community Market's Maria Pennock.
