A bill to fund improvements to the Jacksonville Farmers Market will be up for a vote at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
City Councilman Garrett Dennis says revitalizing the Farmers Market is important to that area, which has been a "food desert" lacking healthy options.
Market General Manager Greg Tison says the the company has been planning the improvements for years.
“We’re getting ready to get one of the contractors to start construction here soon,” he says. “We will be putting permanent awnings over the sidewalks attached to the buildings and enlarge our sidewalks and make it easier for customers to walk and get by.”
Frequent shopper Becky Fagan says the changes would benefit shoppers and vendors.
"A lot of elderly folk come here, so it will be very nice for them to be covered. It’s too hot for them sometimes just because it’s too sunny here," Fagan says. "The vendors, their food winds up out in the sun, so I think it will be a big deal for them.”
The $150,000 from the city would also be used to install public announcement systems and make sidewalks handicapped accessible.
Dennis says he expects a unanimous vote in favor of the funding at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
