Palm Harbor Farmer's Market Moves to Pop Stansell Park

Palm Harbor will once again have a farmer's market. 

Representatives from the Palm Harbor Historical Society and CSA Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation met Wednesday afternoon and agreed to team up to bring the farmer's market back to Palm Harbor. 

The farmer's market that used to be held on the grounds of the North Pinellas Historical Museum will re-open June 2 at Pop Stansell Park.

"After reading about what happened with the current location on Palm Harbor Patch, we realized it would be a great asset to add the market to one of our locations. We already have the park space, we have the shade, we have the accessibility and it's something that a Parks and Recreation Department should be partnering with," said Mathew Eberius, CSA Palm Harbor recreation specialist and camps coordinator.

The previous farmer's market closed April 7 after receiving code violations and complaints about noise. The Palm Harbor Historical Society operated the market and used money from vendor fees to help support the North Pinellas Historical Museum. 

Palm Harbor Historical Society vice president Ric Clark is excited to bring the farmer's market back.

"I think it'll do good down there. It's a beautiful location," Clark told Patch on Wednesday afternoon.

Eberius says the location is great because Pop Stansell is one of Palm Harbor's most popular parks. 

"It has a kayak and non-motorized boat launch, a pier, a playground, band shell, picnic shelters. It's the perfect spot for families to spend their day," he said, adding that the park's location off busy Alt. 19 might attract people to the farmer's market.

The two agencies are creating a partnership agreement for use of the park, in which Palm Harbor Historical Society will pay any expenses associated with the operation of the restrooms on Sundays.

Eberius says CSA Palm Harbor is happy to partner with the Palm Harbor Historical Society. 

"It goes back to what our mission is in partnering with other community services. They offer a great asset to our community and we feel we add to it and it makes sense for the two organizations to work together because we're providing the same services to our citizens and that's improving the quality of life," he said.

"I believe in my heart of hearts that community needs to stick with community. It just makes sense to do this," said CSA Palm Harbor Director Erica Lynford.

• What to Know if You Go: Palm Harbor Farmer's Market
• Where: Pop Stansell Park, 797 Florida Ave (corner of 8th St. & Florida Ave.)
• Begins: Sunday, June 2, 2013
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Schedule: Every Sunday, year-round
• Cost: Free admission
• Vendor Fee: $20 per week, $70 per month

Interested in becoming a Palm Harbor Farmer's Market vendor? Email Barb Haley at bhaley13@tampabay.rr.com or Rick Clark at ricclark@msn.com

Related:

• Support for Palm Harbor Farmer's Market Grows
• H. S. "Pop" Stansell Memorial Park

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