Farmers Market offers children's activities

Pineapple Park, a popular gathering place for the city’s homeless, was transformed to house a variety of activities for children Saturday — for the day, at least.

The Sarasota Farmers Market was responsible for converting the area at Lemon Avenue and Pineapple Avenue, anchored by a giant fountain with a painting of a mermaid. The activities offered included rock climbing, coconut painting and trampoline bungee jumping. Phil Pagano, farmers market Manager, said he wants to provide a space for kids with parents who frequent the farmers market.

“We've always been in need of an area for families and children to have activities,” Pagano said. “It seemed like a good place.”

The farmers market obtained a permit from the city to use the park in August, Pagano said, because construction of the State Street parking garage would limit the available space for vendors. Beyond just moving a vendor toward the fountain, though, Pagano saw the park as an opportunity to offer family-oriented activities the market had lacked.

Pagano had the area pressure-washed before the painting and rock-climbing activities were first offered Feb. 1. The ground was also cleared of debris; Pagano hopes to establish a picnic area for those patronizing the market. So far, Pagano said, the work has paid off.

“I think, in general, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive,” Pagano said. “People were coming through and seeing more people utilizing the fountain area; it was a good, safe environment for everybody.”

Although the area has only housed these activities for two weeks, Pagano already has plans to expand the offerings. Pagano said he’s been working with master gardeners with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences the Sarasota County Extension to offer educational opportunities for children.

“We're going to develop some kids’ programs,” Pagano said. “They can learn about how to grow different produce and lot of other agricultural things.”

Pagano said the new space would allow the farmers market to expand its services.

“It's going to be a family-oriented area along the lines of what the market is,” Pagano said. “The market is a nice, healthy place to be.”

Contact David Conway at [email protected]