Council approves Centennial Park Farmers Market permit after parking adjustment for nearby businesses

The Bonner Springs City Council approved a public-use request on April 14 allowing the Farmers Market to operate in Centennial Park for the 2025 season, after council members and staff resolved a parking concern raised by nearby business owners.

Councilmember (speaker 3) asked to pull the consent item to discuss a complaint by the owner of Kobe's (citing access for Red Fortune employees). Megan Gilliland, the city's economic development manager, said the market layout mirrors last year with traffic arrows and limited closures; she noted 6–8 parking spaces adjacent to Centennial Park will remain open and accessible, including for people who are disabled. Captain Pate of the police department said the department's concern was pedestrian safety if traffic were allowed through a closed one-way area; staff proposed a curved barrier configuration to permit employee access to a gravel lot without allowing a through-traffic lane across pedestrian areas.

Councilmember (speaker 3) said staff and the police had reached a middle ground and asked that the special-use map be edited to reflect the access arrangement for Red Fortune employees. Market volunteers and staff said accommodations have been made in previous years to allow deliveries and employee access during market hours and that staff will adjust barricades operationally.

The council approved the public-use request with the agreed operational arrangement; the clerk recorded the roll call vote and the motion passed.

What's next: staff will finalize the Farmers Market site map and confirm operational barricade placement and signage before the market season begins.