Oakland County parks staff recommend studying Bicentennial Oaks as new site for county farmers market

Oakland County parks staff on Thursday outlined plans to modernize the Oakland County Farmers Market and recommended studying a move to Bicentennial Oaks Park, saying the county-owned site offers more space, parking and flexibility than the market’s current more-constrained location.

The presentation to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners emphasized vendor concerns about parking, unloading and visibility and noted a congressional earmark of $2,360,000 held at U.S. HUD that the county cannot draw down until it decides on a final project plan and location. Chris (parks staff presenter) told commissioners the market’s current building is “more than 70 years old” and “in dire need of some refreshing,” and that moving to a county‑owned site would allow the market to remain open while a new facility is built.

Parks staff said the market supports commerce between producers and consumers, currently lists 84 approved vendors and runs year‑round. Bridal Webley, identified in the presentation as assistant park supervisor and market manager, described structural problems with the existing building and said major repairs would likely require closing the facility for months. Vendors attending said parking, loading access for large deliveries and vendor visibility were central to their view of a viable location.

Why this matters: staff said the HUD earmark requires a defined plan and location before funds can be released. Staff estimated a full rebuild or new facility could cost in the $5 million–$10 million range depending on scope and said, if the board moved forward with a decision in May, construction could begin as early as 2027. Commissioners and vendors repeatedly stressed that continuity for vendors is essential: several vendors noted multigenerational ties to the market and warned that relocation choices that limit vendor access or customer visibility could reduce vendor participation.

Details from the presentation: staff recounted the market’s history (founded in the early 1920s, building dating to 1954), said the county currently limits vendor participation to producers and makers (no resellers) and that the county’s Parks department has worked to expand programming and acceptance of food‑assistance benefits at the market. Staff said the 2022 congressional project funding was secured with support from Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congresswoman Stevens and that the funds remain available but cannot be drawn until plans and location are finalized.

Staff presented options they have previously studied, including a downtown Pontiac redevelopment site and the Oakland Press/BOGI Group concept, but cautioned those downtown sites are constrained for parking and vendor staging and that details from private developers remained unclear. As an alternative, staff proposed studying Bicentennial Oaks Park (property county‑owned and under Parks’ control) as a location where a new market facility could be built while the existing market continued to operate. The Parks department said Bicentennial Oaks offers room to stage large deliveries (including semis), additional parking, and space for complementary programming.

Vendors who spoke urged the board to prioritize vendor needs in any relocation. A vendor identified as Mary Ellen Queen (Forever Summer Soaps) said she has been a vendor for 30 years and described the market as “an original business incubator” for small producers. Another vendor, identified in the presentation as a vendor from Living Bread, said parking and unloading can be the difference between a workable site and one that loses vendors. Several commissioners — including Commissioner Nelson and Commissioner Taylor — praised staff for engaging vendors and said visibility from Telegraph Road and improved transit access were important considerations for attracting more customers.

Next steps and timing: Parks staff said a resolution to authorize a feasibility study of Bicentennial Oaks would go to the Parks Commission in early May; the Parks Commission will review the proposal before it returns to the Board of Commissioners. Commissioners voted by voice to receive and file the presentation. No formal relocation decision or site commitment was made at Thursday’s meeting.

Ending note: staff urged that vendor input continue to guide site selection and said the goal is to preserve the market’s vendor base while modernizing the facility and making it more accessible to customers and deliveries.