Summerland’s weekly country market has been relocated from Memorial Park to Kelly Avenue.
Ashley Richard, market manager, said the change came when the municipality did not allow vendors to drive on the grass in the park in order to set up.
“It makes it too hard for our vendors to load and unload,” she said.
She added that the decision seems puzzling because vehicles are allowed on the grass during community festivals.
Recreation director Dale MacDonald said the change was needed because of damages from vehicles in the park. While the vendors were allowed to set up in the park, he said they chose to use the street instead.
As a result, a portion of Kelly Avenue is now closed during when the markets are taking place. The road closure does not present a traffic problem since the portion of the road does not see a lot of activity, MacDonald said.
Municipal administrator Don DeGagne said the street market will be run as an experiment until the markets close for the year next month. DeGagne expects the street market will work well for the community and the vendors.
“Penticton has a very successful market on the street that started in the park,” he said.