Glenwood Farmers Market moving to Town Square

It’s official - the Glenwood Farmers Market is moving to Town Square.

Held during the summer months at Glenwood Lake Park for more than a decade, the Wednesday evening market is moving to the northeast side of Town Square - on the west side of Vine Street across the road from Vine Street Cellars winery and the former Mills County Sheriff’s Office building.

The move was formalized last week in a motion passed by the Glenwood City Council that will allow for the west side of Vine Street to be blocked off to traffic from First Street to the horseshoe driveway south of the Mills County Courthouse.

The move to change the venue of the Farmers Market was spearheaded by business owner Jeni Kirsch, who said she’d like to see more community activities on Town Square, a place she considers to be the heart of the community.

Kirsch has met with current and former Glenwood Park Board members to discuss the move. The board was involved in establishing the market and has voiced its support for the change in venue.
It was noted during a park board meeting in July that neither the city nor the park board have ownership rights to the market, although the park board was taking in about $1,300 in revenue annually for hosting the event. Kirsch said she is agreeable to the park board continuing to receive revenue generated by the farmers market, which generally comes from vendor fees.

According to a proposal submitted to the Glenwood City Council by Kirsch, the next step in the process of moving the market is organizing a committee that will begin planning and establishing rules and regulations. The committee will also oversee operation of the market, which is slated to start the first Wednesday in June. Kirsch said the committee will communicate information regarding the market to Town Square business owners.