Quite a stir was caused when the Port of Everett last week revealed plans to start charging for parking during the hours of the Sunday Everett Farmers Market at Boxcar Park on the Everett Waterfront. Here’s more context on the issue and some options from the owners of the Everett Farmers Market as they prepare for week 2.
Click on photo to enlarge. Image courtesy Everett Farmers Market-Port of Everett
Thank you for a memorable Opening Day at the Everett Farmers Market. It was such a pleasure to see all of you, after a long winter. As we gear up for this coming Sunday, May 19, please note that the Everett Farmers Market, in partnership with the Port of Everett, has implemented a $2 event parking fee along with enhanced parking support during Market hours to better manage the high parking demand.
The Port of Everett has contracted with Diamond Parking for its waterfront parking program, and the Port has offered Diamond’s services to the Market to handle collection of the parking fee on our behalf. The fees collected will be put toward costs associated with managing and maintaining parking, and hopefully will encourage customers to carpool, use rideshare options, or take public transit to the waterfront (available via Everett Transit, Route 6 –www.everetttransit.org/191/Route-6).
Goal – Our goal is to improve everyone’s parking experience due to the increasing complaints for lack of parking management. A 2017 Rapid Market Assessment Report conducted by the Washington State Farmers Market Association for the Everett Farmers Market found parking to be one of the top ranked topics for improvement. The Port of Everett has experienced the same feedback with regard to Market parking and has a commitment to ensure all site users, including its boating community, business and restaurant patrons have parking access when visiting the waterfront during events.
More Convenient – Based on feedback received this week on the fee collection process, the Market and Port are exploring options to make the process more convenient upon arrival. At this time, Diamond can only collect cash; however, they are working to make a mobile app option available and are looking into a punch card system that would allow frequent visitors to pay for 10 visits and present the card instead of cash to park on future visits.
Validation – There is also opportunity for individual vendors to consider parking validation for shoppers who purchase from their stand. As these programs develop, we will provide more information, please watch for these.
ADA Parking – We have also heard the need for additional ADA parking, and have incorporated this into the Market this coming Sunday. Do note the map and where ADA parking is. There is a separate route to ADA parking, to the south of the market.
Achieving Balance – The Everett Farmers Market and Port of Everett are working together to achieve balance between demands so that all site needs are addressed. We are committed to resolving these issues or relocating the Market to a location that will allow for the room needed to maintain and grow next year. See below the one-page handout with information on the 2019 Market changes and a map for parking and traffic flow. Here is the link as it is also posted on our webpage https://everettfarmersmarket.com/2019/05/14/2-parking-at-the-port-of-everett/
13th St. Closure – Please note below that 13th St will is closed from May 13 – 30thwhile a new road is being completed
As always, we appreciate your continued support and your feedback.
Thank you,
Gary Purves and Karen Erickson
Everett Farmers Market, Owners
May 18, 2019
Events in Everett