Market series launches in parks

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is launching a series of markets in parks across the city this summer.
The Minneapolis Park Markets will highlight and promote small businesses and entrepreneurs, with about 15 to 30 vendors at each event ranging from artists to makers to local residents trying to get new business ventures off the ground.
“The idea really came from talking with a lot of young entrepreneurs that are just starting out, who can’t afford brick and mortar [stores] or maybe have an idea and want to test it, maybe have a great product but don’t have the wherewithal,” said Shane Stenzel, park use and events permit manager. “We looked at some of our parks and said maybe this is an opportunity.”
The markets will take place on various nights from June through August at four different parks: Lake Harriet, Minnehaha Regional Park, Water Works, and The Commons. The park board selected these parks to pilot this new initiative because most – like Water Works with its proximity to James Beard award-winning restaurant Owamni, and the Stone Arch Bridge and Minnehaha Regional Park near Minnehaha Falls and the always popular Sea Salt Eatery – are already big draws in the summer months. Others like Lake Harriet already have existing programming such as the concert series at the bandshell that bring people to the area.
“You look at Minnehaha, you look at Lake Harriet, you look at Water Works, you look at The Commons – they’re regional draws,” Stenzel said. “People from the suburbs are there. People from out of state are there. That’s really appealing to the market folks because it’s a different clientele that they’re seeing.”
A fifth market was slated for Market Square, a new park near Hiawatha Avenue and East Lake Street. However, Stenzel said it’s more likely that location will host a few pop-up events throughout the summer rather than a regularly occurring market.
Stenzel emphasized that the Minneapolis Park Markets are not farmers markets, which the park board already permits at various locations throughout the city. While visitors will not find any fresh produce at these markets, they will be able to shop a variety of other goods and learn about other services. Lake Harriet, for example, will have a vendor selling fresh cut flowers, another selling wooden children’s toys, and another selling organic skincare products, among others.
The park board is partnering with several community organizations to put on some of the markets. They will work with the Black Market for the event at The Commons that will feature Black-owned businesses and professionals. At Water Works, the market will showcase a number of Indigenous vendors and artists.
Stenzel said the response from vendors who want to participate in the Minneapolis Park Markets has been great, and the events are all nearly at capacity. Stenzel said the park board may consider expanding these markets to additional parks in the future, but for now, they are going to see how the first year goes. It all depends on the feedback they get from both vendors and park goers.
“There’s so many good, really talented people in Minneapolis that maybe just can’t get over that hump or just want to try something or want to do this or that,” Stenzel said. “Success for us is somebody that came in that was a young entrepreneur who maybe started in the park and worked their way up to something bigger.”
More information on the Minneapolis Park Markets can be found at minneapolisparks.org.