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Wednesday in the park with kiosks and shoppers

Reports from the first Midday Market are positive.

By JON WILSON
Published February 11, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Live as it happened, the new Wednesday Midday Market spun out good reviews last week.

A few days later, officials continued to nod and smile.

They liked it. They hope it continues.

Drawing as many as 1,000 lunchtime customers, the market in Williams Park offered food and craft ware - mostly food - from 25 vendors. People stood in line. Most vendors ran out of goods, said market manager David Cellon.

"They're all ramped up for (this) week. It'll be a stronger showing," Cellon said, promising to add a few more vendors.

The second midday event takes place Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Williams Park in the heart of downtown.

Those who organized and those who attended may have harbored, in the backs of their minds, concern about possible friction with homeless people who are daytime park residents.

No problems were reported. A highly visible police presence may have helped.

Neighborhood Times and Mayor Rick Baker couldn't make phone connections late last week, but the mayor has said in the past that a Williams Park market is a good thing for everyone.

City Council member Jamie Bennett, who is chair of the county's Homeless Leadership Network, couldn't attend the market because of a conflict. He said he had received good reports about it.

"We're a growing downtown, a city with every type of urban problem that every other city has. We just have to grapple with it. (Williams Park) is everybody's park, just like every park in the city," Bennett said.

Bennett suggested that making Williams Park widely attractive will require what is in theory a simple act.

"If we want our park back, we have to take ownership of our park. We have to use it," Bennett said.

Meanwhile, ranking city administrators praised Wednesday's event.

"What I thought was the coolest thing about it, it gives us a chance to rediscover Williams Park. It was basically the town square when the city was founded," said Rick Mussett, the city's senior development administrator.

Mussett said that as the event progressed, he saw some apparently homeless people browsing the booths and mingling. "It seemed everybody was able to coexist," he said.

Bob Jeffrey, the assistant director of developmental services, agreed that people eventually began mixing together.

"I hope people have the courage to continue and people in the community come back and support it week after week," Jeffrey said. As do others, he believes word-of-mouth will draw more people.

The market will be held at the same time and place the next three Wednesdays. Organizers will discuss its future at a meeting Friday.

"What I thought was the coolest thing about it, it gives us a chance to rediscover Williams Park. It was basically the town square when the city was founded."

Rick Mussett, the city's senior development administrator

[Last modified February 11, 2007, 09:57:36]