Friendship Park in Lake Township may be the site of a new farmers market. (Debbie Rogers | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Debbie Rogers
MILLBURY — Perrysburg’s loss could be Lake Township’s gain.
At Tuesday’s meeting the Lake Township Trustees heard a proposal about bringing a farmers market back to Friendship Park, which is off Ohio 795 and adjacent to the administration building.
“Perrysburg is in discussions about possibly ending their farmers market,” said Fiscal Officer Buddy Ritson.”A lot of people have approached me about actually starting one up here in Lake Township again.”
He recommended that the trustees work with representatives from Walbridge and Millbury to make it happen.
“A community-based farmers market … will show our heritage and our history,” Ritson said. “I think it would be great for the township. A lot of people will be excited about this.”
Trustee Chairman Ken Gilsdorf said the township had a farmers market for about six years, with about eight vendors.
“Then, I think it just fell by the wayside, I don’t know why,” he said.
“Tornado,” said Sue Brinker, an audience member.
A June 2010 EF-4 tornado destroyed the township administration building and did a lot of damage to the park.
At last month’s Perrysburg Council meeting, it was announced that Visit Perrysburg Market Days will hold its last event Sept. 21.
The board of directors for Visit Perrysburg have voted to discontinue management of the Thursday farmer’s market at the end of this season.
The market has been averaging 60 vendors and 17 food trucks with upwards to 6,000 visitors. The cancellation is due to the city fees that were mandated last August and were post-dated for the 2022 year.
The city has started charging Visit Perrysburg for the cost of police coverage, garbage removal and cleanup. The average combined cost was estimated to be $24,000, or $1,000 per market day.
“It kind of became its own big business,” said Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer, who is also the township administrator, of the Perrysburg market.
The trustees said they were interested in a farmers market.
“We’ll talk about it,” Gilsdorf said.
He said Friendship Park, with its restrooms and central location, is ideal for a market.
“It takes a village to be able do it. It can’t be just one person,” Ritson said.
“It takes a township,” said Trustee Lorie Davis.
