City officials and business leaders joined Mayor Mark Blankenship behind gold shovels to turn the first dirt for the project that is being built between the city-owned Ozark Square Shopping Center and the First Ozark United Methodist Church’s soon-to-be-built Kingsley Christian Learning Center.
Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce Director Rosmarie Williamson and her sister Linda Barefield were among those happy to see the new location for the farmers market. Williamson said she had been asked in 2020 by State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industry Marketing Development Specialist John Willoughby to consider re-starting a farmers market in Ozark. One had been held for a short time in the parking lot at the Ozark Square Shopping Center years ago.
“The first year we held a summer market. In 2021 and 2022 we added a fall market,” Williamson said. “This year the fall market will begin Oct. 4 and run each Tuesday through Oct. 25 from 2:30 until 5:30 p.m. at the Ozark Amphitheater. Architect Chad Brown with JML Architecture designed the farmers market. The city council awarded the project to low bidder Elite Group for $327,875. Blankenship thanked Ozark Public Works Director Ryan Campbell and crew for clearing the area and preparing the pad.