Thumbs up to the Bend Farmers Market, The Downtowners [Downtown Bend Business Association], and the City of Bend for moving the Wednesday Market to a location that is accessible for people with disabilities so that EVERYONE can participate in this lovely community event.
While at the market this week, I heard from almost everyone I saw how much they enjoyed the new location – more space, better visibility, etc. When I mentioned that this new set up was also good for people with disabilities, they would also add, “Yeah, I saw a person in a wheelchair and some walkers too, cool.” I’m sure the moms and dads using strollers agree. Cool.
Thank you to all the people with disabilities and advocates who, for years, asked for this to happen. Thank you to all of those involved who finally listened.
Jenni Peskin, Bend
This article appears in Aug 25-31, 2011.
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Fifty people agree with my viewpoint (top comment here: http://www.ktvz.com/news/28898846/detail.html ) on this matter at the Z21 website. Be a good mensch and add your “like” to my total. I’m doing democracy here. Jenni and I apparently visited entirely different markets. I spent a total of about 3 hours over the course of the last two markets on the asphalt jungle and by about a 90% majority people I spoke to, including vendors, market managers and customers all agree that the move to the tarmac for the Downtown Farmer’s Market was one of the dumbest things we’ve done in the last decade in Bend.