Downtown Public Square Market

A committee was formed in late October 2008 to investigate the possibility of growing a downtown marketplace that initially begin with farmers and artisans selling products on Public Square and eventually be a catalyst for downtown business success.

The initial committee consisted of Rita Arancibia, Karla Kean, Tim Catchim, Wayne Wilkinson, Paige King, Laura Schroeder, Joe Davidson, Dorothy Hartzog, Diann Nance and Beth Kasper.

Valued Markets were identified with the following:

• Public markets become the heart and soul of a community, its common ground, a place where people easily interact, alive with social and economic activity.
• Markets contribute to the character of a city and serve as an incubator for small businesses.
• Spread to other neighborhoods helping support local businesses, healthy food and walkable communities.
• Heart and Soul of communities, common ground, a place where people interact easily and a setting where other community activities can take place.
• Can be inviting, safe and lively places that attract a wide range of people.

Ideas that were generated included farmers, artisans and entertainment. They also included opportunities for local community gardens and non profits to be juried by the Market Committee prior to launching the Market.

During the discussions we realized that a Market Manager would be needed to establish the market on firm ground. Parks & Recreation and Community Development discussed the possibility of a partnership. In May 2009 City of Clarksville Parks & Recreation hired Niki Crowe to operate the Downtown Market and she hit the ground running. The first Market took place on June 6, 2009. Matthew Nixon is now the market's manager and looks forward to doing all that he can to make the 2010 season sucessful.