UPDATE: County Panel OKs Plan for New City Farmer's Market

The popularity of farmer's markets throughout Rockland has not gone unnoticed in New City, where local officials are hoping they too can capitalize on the trend to help attract visitors to downtown New City on Sundays.

For several months, Clarkstown town officials and local business leaders have been working on a plan to host a farmer's market. Town Board member Shirley Lasker said the Downtown New City Corporation has agreed to assist the effort by handling the necessary insurance for a new market.

Town officials believe they have the perfect location for a farmer's market, however, their decision to ask Rockland County to let the market take place in a county parking lot on New Hempstead Road has added to the complexity of the project.

Town officials and the Downtown New City Corporation want to use the municipal parking lot between 2 and 18 New Hempstead Road as the site for the farmer's market, which would operate each Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June to mid-November.

The lots, opposite the county's Allison-Parris County Office Building at 11 New Hempstead Road, are not used by the county on the weekends and are just yards away from Main Street as part of the downtown New City business district.

"It's the perfect place," said Lasker, who says she believes the market will attract shoppers from New City and surrounding areas who might not normally come downtown on Sundays.

New City Chamber of Commerce member Dori McMaster, former president of the Downtown New City Corporation, agrees the farmer's market will be a boost for downtown New City.

However, because the market plan calls for using county property, the proposal needs approval of the county government - including the County Legislature.

Legislator Bob Jackson of Nanuet, who is chairman of the Planning
and Public Works Committee, has proposed a resolution that would enable the New City Farmer's Market to be held on the county property. After about 30 minutes of discussion, the committe on Tuesday approved the farmer's market proposal.

The project is expected to be approved by the full Legislature in early July.

Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alexander Gromack said the town and the New City Downtown Corporation have reached out to local markets and have gotten their support for the new farmer's market. In Clarkstown, Valley Cottage recently began hosting a farmer's market on Lake Road in a town commuter lot, adjacent to the new community park that was built as part of the hamlet renovation in Valley Cottage.

Jackson said he believes the farmer's market will provide great opportunities for vendors and residents, and will attract market goers to downtown
businesses, contributing to the New City economy.

"I myself look forward to patronizing the market for all the unique products that make this event so desirable," said Jackson.

Lasker said the town wants to begin the new market as soon as possible so that the local economy can see a boost over the summer and into the fall.