Parks committee backs Military Avenue group to fundraise for Murphy Park market

Green Bay Parks Committee on May 14 voted to recommend that Military Avenue Inc. be allowed to continue fundraising for a proposed shared-use market and parking lot at Murphy Park, moving the proposal to the full City Council for final approval.

The committee’s recommendation follows a staff presentation and public comments from the market organizers, an architect and several vendors. Parks staff described the proposal as a joint venture in which Military Avenue Inc. would fund and build the structure, then donate it to the city; the city would own the facility and tentatively lease it back to the group for 20 years with two five-year extensions.

The proposal is intended to provide a permanent home for an established farmers market that has moved among several temporary locations. Military Avenue Business District Director Leah Weicker said, “We have received an anonymous donation of 700,000 to this point,” and described the project as a way to stop repeated relocations and provide year-round indoor space for vendors.

Committee discussion and presenters’ remarks laid out the project's scope: a roughly 13,685-square-foot building with flexible hall space, a reduced-size kitchen for food production and packaging, vendor offices, public restrooms open daily, and the possibility to fit indoor pickleball courts. Architect Ryan Milke described design features including glazed overhead doors, saying, “They bring a lot of natural light and make it a really nice place on the inside.” Strategic consultant Lisa Vandenoven provided a cost estimate, saying the building “would come up to about $296 a square foot,” and put the project total at about $4.9 million.

Presenters and staff said the site under consideration is the southeast corner of Murphy Park, the least-used area of the park now occupied by an infrequently used ball field and some mature trees. Parks staff said they worked with the city forester and park planner to identify which trees could be preserved and how to manage stormwater and parking.

Military Avenue Inc. and its partners plan to lead fundraising and contracting. According to staff, the group would hire contractors, build the facility with donated funds, then donate the completed building to the city. The city would consider spending up to $250,000 of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding for infrastructure related to the project, but staff emphasized that the $250,000 is only under consideration and has not been presented to or approved by any committee.

Project timeline and funding remain contingent on fundraising and approvals. Presenters said they aim to begin construction in 2026 and want to have roughly 75% of funds raised before starting. Lisa Vandenoven said the group already has $700,000 in hand and is targeting large private gifts, and that placing the facility on city-owned land would avoid the cost of purchasing property.

During the Parks Committee meeting, vendors and supporters said a permanent location would help them retain customers who currently must track a moving market. Karen Van Dynehoven, co-owner of 7 Feather Bison Ranch and a market vendor, told the committee she supports a single location so “we would be able to tell our customers to find us in 1 location and buy our bison meat.”

Committee members expressed support. Alder Presley moved approval of the committee recommendation and Alder DeLee seconded; the committee recorded unanimous ayes and the motion passed. Committee members and staff noted the matter will be placed on the full Green Bay City Council agenda next Tuesday for consideration.

The committee’s action allows Military Avenue Inc. to proceed with its capital campaign and moves the proposal to the next step of municipal review; any city financial commitment, including the previously discussed $250,000 of possible TIF infrastructure funding, would require separate approvals by the appropriate council committees and the full council.