Council Meeting Highlights Farmers Market Plans, Kids Park Map

The McKinley Park Advisory Council is gearing up for another jam-packed summer in McKinley Park, with planning for the seasonal Farmers Market taking a front seat at the council meeting on April 8.

"We are desperate for help," said member Dayna Calderon, who is spearheading much of the farmers market planning for the council. Their outreach includes solicitation of vendors and volunteers, plus new programs for supporting a paid, part-time market manager and a Friend of the Market initiative for local enterprises and non-government organizations.

Now approaching its fourth year in McKinley Park, the Farmers Market will run every Sunday in 2019 from June 2 to September 29. Sited in the northwest corner of the park adjacent to the William McKinley memorial and statue, every market will again feature live music and performance, accompanying games and fitness activities, and fresh food and goods from local vendors, including the ability to pay via SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Volunteer help is especially needed for the market to succeed, Calderon said. The council seeks assistance in the pre-season with marketing, inventory and packing materials, and help with setup, take-down and operations on market days. Volunteers can commit any level of time: To sign up and get more information, send email to chicagompac@gmail.com. 

This year, market vendors will enjoy reduced fees, a 10 percent discount for returning vendors, and other incentives, Calderon said. Any interested vendor should apply before April 30, 2019, to receive fullest consideration and best placement. The 2019 McKinley Park Farmers Market Vendor Application is available to download on the council's Facebook page and also here:

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New for the 2019 season, the Friend of the Market program lets local groups, businesses and organizations show their support for the McKinley Park Farmers Market while sharing their information with the public. At a rate of $15 per stall each Sunday (or $270 for the full season), a Friend of the Market can participate and connect with market attendees. The council's Facebook page links up the 2019 McKinley Park Farmers Market Friend of the Market Application, which is also available to download here:

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The Market Vendor and Volunteer Manager is a new position for 2019 and the first paid role to join the ranks of market volunteers. The council has advertised details and set up an application process on the position's Facebook Jobs page, including information about its pay rate ($15 an hour) and requirements for the job. More information is available on the council's job description, which can be downloaded here:

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A Kids Map of McKinley Park

Also at the April 8 council meeting, students, parents and administrators of the nearby Velma Thomas Early Childhood Center attended to share their progress on a major project the whole school has been working on over the past year. McKinley Park has been the focus of school kids and teachers as they have exhaustively documented the park's flora, fauna and natural spaces, said principal Mary Kay Richardson.

"The park contains special places for my family," said parent Maria Moreno.

School children and representatives of the school displayed their handiwork, including murals of park spaces and animals, at the meeting. They also showcased their "Favorite Places at McKinley Park" map, which included their noted landmarks such as "The Place of Tranquility" and "The Red Trail."

"The goal of the map is to get people to come to the park," said school representative Peter Brown.

Community Garden and Soccer Field Enhancements

Also at the April 8 council meeting, McKinley Park Community Garden President Nicholas Efronsis spoke on upcoming garden events and prospective site enhancements to be coordinated with Chicago Park District resources. These include a barrier to keep kids away from the traffic on Damen Avenue, a walkway and a grove of fruit trees on the north side of the garden.

Big community garden events include its Organic Plant Sale coming up on May 18, Efronsis said.

Matt Miller and local resident Heather Breems, both representing the Chicago KICS kids soccer league, attended the meeting to speak on prospective enhancements to the soccer field. In particular, they recommended a new boundaries and marking layout that would make it easier to use the field in a more versatile way.

Chicago KICS is currently engaged in spring soccer skills clinics in McKinley Park on Sundays through June 9. Breems said the organization is interested in continuing to bring more soccer programming to McKinley Park.

The McKinley Park Advisory Council meets monthly on the second Monday of the month in the McKinley Park field house. The next McKinley Park Advisory Council Meeting is slated for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 13.