Farmers’ Market Improvement Project

Farmers’ Market Improvement Project

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.

Project Status

The project is currently in a planning and design phase, which involves:

  • Accepting a proposal concept
  • Continuing to take public feedback
  • Presentation of a revised concept plan
  • Accepting the revised concept plan or choosing to proceed without private partnership.

Concept Development Plan + Development Partnership

The City issued a request for proposals to the development community which calls for ideas for development of a new Farmers’ Market on the current site. This process allows the community an opportunity to evaluate alternatives to simply undertaking a separate and stand-alone City redevelopment of the Farmers’ Market site.

The City and Copaken Brooks led a public engagement process in the late summer and early fall 2022 to take community feedback on the concept development plan.

See the Current Concept Plan

Community Engagement

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

The City, along with Copaken Brooks and PGAV Architecture, met with a variety of people involved with the market at many locations in Overland Park in order to ensure anyone who would like to weigh in on the concept plan or share new ideas can do so.

Results from the most recent community engagement process are available to read.

Meet at the Market

Representatives from the project team visited the Farmers’ Market, 7950 Marty, during the months of August and September to share details about the concept plan and take feedback.

Town Hall Meetings

Shoppers, vendors, neighbors and others can see a presentation on the project, ask questions and share their thoughts at two Town Hall meetings during the community engagement process. Visit Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty, on the following dates for Town Hall meetings:

  • Preliminary presentation and gather feedback – 7 p.m on Sept. 14
  • Community Engagement process findings presentation – 7 p.m. on Oct. 20

Community Engagement Survey

A feedback form was available online from Sept. 15-29, 2022.

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and ideas for completing the form in a timely manner, providing enough time for the project team to incorporate feedback while keeping the project on schedule.

 

Stakeholder Sessions

The project team met with a variety of stakeholders in large and small group meetings, one-on-one sessions, interviews and more. Stakeholders that were specifically invited to share their feedback include:

  • Farmers’ Market vendors,
  • Downtown Overland Park merchants and the Downtown Overland Park Partnership,
  • The Overland Park Parks and Recreation Advisory Board,
  • The Overland Park City Council.
  • City staff

Project Background

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:

  • Accommodate downtown events such as the Farmers’ Market while minimizing disruption caused by parking availability.
  • Permit growth of the Farmers’ Market and increase comfort for vendors and customers.
  • Expand transit service, enhancing pedestrian connections from downtown businesses and encouraging alternative transportation.
  • Allow for a more flexible event and community gathering facility.

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.

Study Results

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.

Project Timeline

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.

2018-2019

  • February 5, 2018 – After a study exploring ways to improve the Farmers’ Market, including public and vendor input meetings, a consultant presented to the Overland Park City Council regarding future plans for the market.
  • Spring 2018 – The City spent approximately $200,000 in interim maintenance expenses to paint the Farmers’ Market pavilion canopy, enhance the electrical system, address immediate drainage and pavement issues on the site and more.
  • October 2018 – The City purchased the property at 7910 Marty adjacent to the Farmers’ Market pavilion that was previously used as a car wash. This space has been used for additional parking in Downtown, especially on Market days.
  • Spring 2019 – The City allocated $5.5 million in the 2020-2024 Capital Improvements Plan for design and reconstruction of the Farmers’ Market site, scheduled to be built in 2022.

2021

  • Spring 2021 – City Council approved the 2022-2026 Capital Improvements Plan, which adjusts funding years from the Farmers’ Market improvements to allow preliminary planning to start in 2021.
  • April 7, 2021 – City staff informed the Community Development Committee that the City would be issuing a request for proposals for a public-private partnership for the Overland Park Farmers’ Market.
  • September 2021 – The City issued a request for proposals for redevelopment of the Farmers’ Market site. 
  • September 28, 2021 – The City hosted a town hall event for residents, Farmers’ Market shoppers and vendors, and others to share feedback on the project. You can see feedback gathered at the town hall and through a virtual feedback form in the RFP addendum #1 and RFP addendum #2.

2022

  • Winter 2021/2022 – A selection committee evaluated proposals and interviewed applicants.
  • April 4 – City Council approved the selection committee’s recommendation to engage with a private developer and selected Copaken Brooks as the recommended partner.
  • August-November – Project partnership community engagement process.
  • November 7 – Project team presented the findings of the community engagement process to the City Council Committee of the Whole.
  • December 19 – The Governing Body approved the revised concept plan.

2023 + Beyond

  • February 20 – The Governing Body approved an agreement for the development team to further refine the concept plan, estimate plan costs and identify financing options.
  • 2024 or later – Construction to begin.

Questions + Answers

Will the Farmers’ Market stay at the current site at 7950 Marty?

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.

Why is the City updating the Farmers’ Market 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.

Will the Farmers’ Market have to move for construction of the new facility?

Until we know the full scope of the Farmers’ Market site redevelopment project, we don’t know for sure.

However, it is expected that reconstruction may relocate the Farmers’ Market for at least some part of the 2023 season. City staff will work to ensure minimal disruption to market vendors, shoppers and others while the redevelopment project is under construction.

Will this project include public engagement opportunities? How can I get involved?

The Farmers’ Market is a major community amenity and as such, the City and any other parties involved in the project will have multiple opportunities throughout the planning and development process to share their thoughts.

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.

A new round of community engagement will begin in late summer 2022. Please see the Get Involved section above for more information.

Additionally, City projects, like all development projects in Overland Park, are required to go through the Planning Commission and City Council approval process. These involve the opportunity to attend public hearings and share your thoughts.

You can also always reach out to your City Council member. Use the tool on our website to enter your address and see contact information for your representative.

Who all is the City working with to make this project happen?

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.

Will the improvement project involve any of the designs from the 2017 study?

At this time, no specific design has been selected.

The redeveloped Farmers’ Market site will prioritize the goals highlighted in the 2017 study.

Why did the City issue a request for proposals for this project instead of just rebuilding the pavilion?

The request for proposals provided 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.

Issuing the request for proposals and selecting a development partner does not commit the City to any particular path forward.

Why issue a request for proposal now if the Farmers’ Market site is not programmed for construction until 2023?

This process is being carried out far enough in advance to allow the project currently programmed for redevelopment of the Farmers’ Market Pavilion site to begin in 2023 if, after the public engagement process, the City chooses to move forward without a development partner.

How does the Downtown Overland Park Partnership study of Overland Park Drive factor into this plan?

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.

Related Documents + Resources