T-R FILE PHOTO The Cartwright Farmers Market will feature the Kids Zone every Wednesday, a place for children of customers to play while parents are shopping. The market is open today from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A new feature will be at the Cartwright Farmers Market every Wednesday starting today.

Market vendor Vicky Daters, the owner of Back Roads Bounty, is the organizer of the new Kids Zone. There was once an area for kids to play at the farmers market, but it has been a few years since it was available.

“I wanted to bring that back, and further a sense of community,” she said.

The Kids Zone will be an area, weather permitting, in which the children of market shoppers can have some fun while the parents peruse what is available from the vendors.

“Vegetables are not very exciting,” Daters said. “This gives them a place of their own to play with other kids and their parents, something fun for them to do.”

The first Kids Zone today will feature sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, coloring pages, bubbles, stickers, drawing opportunities, jump rope and miniature outdoor bowling.

“I want this to be child-centered and led so they are engaging with their peers,” she said.

The zone will be located between the fifth and seventh vendors, next to the market manager booth. The farmers market driveway will be blocked off to allow for the safety of the playing children and provide enough space to the grassy area next to Cartwright Pavilion. Fortunately, by blocking off the driveway, Daters said it will not impact the already limited parking.

“The only people who park on that side are the vendors,” she said. “Parking for the customers will not be affected at all.”

The number one Kids Zone rule Daters stressed is parents must be on the premises.

“This is not a drop-off service,” she said. “Children can use it while their parents are shopping, and then parents can play with their kids.”

There will be a volunteer supervisor to watch the children as they play. Children in the Kids Zone will be encouraged to play nicely. If a problem does arise, Daters said the child will be asked to leave, but she does not foresee major issues in that area.

The Kids Zone is accepting donations, such as arts and crafts materials and outdoor play equipment. She said the easiest way for people to make donations is to bring the items to the farmers market. Daters hopes to eventually bring in volunteers who will provide some arts and crafts lessons, and perhaps make it possible for kids to play soccer.

“I see the Kids Zone as ever changing and evolving,” she said. “Overall, I would like to get the community more involved in the farmers market. I hope they see it as not only a place to buy vegetables, fruits and homemade goods, but as a fun place to hang out with friends and neighbors, spend quality time with kids in the afternoon and enhance a sense of community.”

KIDS ZONE INFORMATION:

Name: Cartwright Farmers Market

Address: 108 N. Second Ave.

Hours of operation: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesdays

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.