The City of Overland Park is considering options for improvement and expansion of the Farmers’ Market site at 7950 Marty.
Reconstruction of this facility is an important 30+ year investment in downtown Overland Park.
Details about the project, including information relevant to specific phases of the project, are provided below. This page will be updated throughout the improvement project.
The project is currently in a planning and design phase, which involves:
The City issued a request for proposals to the development community, calling for ideas for the development of a new Farmers’ Market on the current site. This process allowed the community to evaluate alternatives to simply undertaking a separate and stand-alone City redevelopment of the Farmers’ Market site.
Based on this community feedback, development standards and financial assessments, the City approved a conceptual plan in July 2024 to develop the public farmers’ market building only.
The Farmers’ Market pavilion was originally built in 1991. While the pavilion houses a major community amenity, the City recognizes there may be additional opportunities for this space, including options that:
In 2017, the City worked with a consultant to study options that would allow the Farmers’ Market to meet the goals listed above. This study included a survey and public meeting for residents, focus groups with Downtown Overland Park merchants and Farmers’ Market vendors, market and transportation analyses and design options.
As a result of the study, the City decided that the Farmers’ Market would remain in its current location. The City also purchased the car wash property to the north of the Farmers’ Market site. The City programmed funding for the Farmers’ Market improvement project into the City’s Five-Year Capital Improvements Plan in 2019.
The following are key dates for the planning, approval and construction of this project. Future dates are tentative. Dates will be updated as the project progresses.
Yes.
A 2017 study confirmed that the location of the market should remain generally in its current location on Marty, at the site of the pavilion and City parking lot.
Regardless of the results of a potential public-private partnership for redevelopment, the Farmers’ Market will be the key component of any future use at the site.
The Farmers’ Market pavilion was originally built in 1991.
While the pavilion houses a major community amenity, the City recognizes there may be additional opportunities for this space, including options that allow for the Farmers’ Market to grow and increase comfort for vendors and shoppers, and additional programming in the space.
Additionally, there are physical challenges for Farmers’ Market operations in continuing to use the existing pavilion space. Rain and weather penetration from the open-air market prevent the possibility of a year-round market operation. The asphalt parking lot surface traps heat and rain runoff, creating a less comfortable environment for all Farmers’ Market attendees. More vendors are interested in selling, and shoppers are interested in purchasing meats, eggs, dairy products and other items that require refrigeration, yet the pavilion has insufficient electrical capacity to accommodate these needs.
City staff will work to ensure minimal disruption to market vendors, shoppers and others while the redevelopment project is under construction. The City anticipates the Farmers’ Market will operate its 2025 season outside Matt Ross Community Center. The market previously operated in this location during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Farmers’ Market is a major community amenity and as such, the City requested feedback from the community throughout the planning and design phase of the project.
The City hosted first round of community engagement in 2021. Residents, Farmers’ Market shoppers and vendors, and others shared feedback on the project at a town hall event on September 21, 2021. You can see feedback gathered at the town hall and through a virtual feedback form in the RFP addendum #1 and RFP addendum #2.
In 2023, the City hosted the following community engagement activities for this project:
The City hired a consultant, K2 Urban Design Development, to write a request for proposals to provide an opportunity to confirm whether reconstruction of the current pavilion is the right path or, if there are other creative ideas to deliver a new Farmers’ Market space partnering with the development community. The consultant and City staff took feedback from the Community Development committee, the Downtown Overland Park Partnership, which represents businesses in Downtown Overland Park, experienced mixed-use developers, RideKC and City staff to inform the request for proposals.
Copaken Brooks is the development partner selected for this project. Copaken Brooks’ concept development plan includes enclosed and open air farmers’ market, space for office or other uses and parking, and considers the use of Marty Street and Overland Park Drive to create the space. Copaken Brooks’ team includes partners with PGAV Architects and McCownGordon Construction.
The project partnership community engagement process will include opportunities for neighbors, residents, merchants, vendors, shoppers and others to weigh in.
The redeveloped Farmers’ Market site will prioritize the goals highlighted in the 2017 study.
The City is aware and involved in the partnership’s planning project for Overland Park Drive, which was considered as part of the selected development partner’s proposal.
City Council approved an agreement for a public engagement process on this topic that took place in the summer and fall of 2022.