Lewistown commission keeps farmers market at Sims Park for one year, requires vendor insurance

The Lewistown City Commission voted unanimously to allow the Farmers Market to remain at Sims Park for the 2026 season, and directed staff to prepare for a move to Creekide in 2027 while requiring a memorandum of understanding and liability insurance that covers all market vendors.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment from vendors and residents who urged the commission to keep the market at Sims Park this year. ‘‘I'm Kathy Walter. I'm here to represent Farmers Market and yes, we would love to stay at Sims Park,’’ said Kathy Walter, a market representative who asked the commission for help with crosswalks, grass repairs and safety measures.

Why it matters: vendors, residents and commissioners debated safety, parking and capacity. Park and Recreation staff reported vendors currently number about 47–52 weekly and that the park board had recommended a one-year extension at Sims Park conditioned on vendor assistance with maintenance and a formal agreement with the city. Commissioners said the extra year is intended to give the parties time to negotiate an MOU, secure insurance, refine layouts and plan for Centerfest weekend, when organizers had asked for exclusive use of Creekide’s pavilion.

What was debated: supporters said Sims Park draws customers and is familiar to vendors; opponents raised safety and access concerns along the state highway adjacent to Sims Park and questioned whether Creekide provides sufficient parking and safe access for children. Park and Rec board member Josh provided site measurements and said Creekide has roughly an acre of usable lawn and about 520 linear feet of sidewalk on one side plus additional sidewalk on the other side, which could be used in alternate layouts. Vendors said they do not currently have a formal agreement or a joint insurance policy.

The motion, made by Commissioner Robertson and seconded by Commissioner Warren, directed staff to follow the Park & Recreation board recommendation: allow the market to remain at Sims Park for one year, require an MOU and an insurance policy that covers all vendors this season, and plan to relocate to Creekide for 2027. Commissioner Robertson stated during the motion, "I want to make a motion that we follow the park and recreation board's recommendation... and that there absolutely this year must be an insurance policy in place with an organization that represents all the vendors." The commission confirmed the motion would include the park board conditions such as crosswalk painting and volunteer crossing guards.

The commission took a roll-call vote and recorded six affirmative votes; the motion passed.

What’s next: staff will draft the MOU and work with the market organizers to secure a vendor-wide insurance policy and discuss layouts, crosswalks and any temporary arrangements for Centerfest weekend. The commission also noted the market organizers should be prepared to register and carry insurance and that the city will continue working on safety improvements at Sims Park and planning for Creekide’s use in 2027.

Clarifying details from the meeting: park staff recorded vendor attendance as approximately 47–52 vendors weekly; park board maps estimated Sims Park sidewalk linear footage near the market at roughly 625–630 linear feet; park board member Josh estimated about 520 linear feet along Creekide sidewalk plus roughly 210 linear feet adjacent to the fish statue for additional frontage; the board recommended a one-year stay at Sims Park with vendor help on lawn repair, crosswalk repainting and a crossing guard program; vendors currently do not provide a joint insurance policy and do not pay fees for park use.

The meeting record shows the commission and public acknowledged the competing objectives: safety and accessibility off the state highway at Sims Park, and Creekide's intent to host festivals and markets. The commission’s action was procedural—an authorization to implement the park board’s recommendation subject to the named conditions, not an ordinance or permanent change.