The grand opening of Columbia’s agriculture park has been delayed due to cold temperatures.
The agriculture park was set to open March 9 at Clary-Shy Community Park. The park is a collaboration between Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, Columbia Parks and Recreation, Columbia Farmers Market and Sustainable Farms and Communities.
“Our tentative opening date of the agriculture park will be April 27,” Adam Saunders, the Build This Town campaign director said.
The Columbia’s Farmer’s Market will move outside the Parkade Center for its spring opening instead of moving to the new agriculture park.
“Winter delays are just winter delays,” Jim Thies, owner of Veggie Patch and a vendor at the farmer’s market, said.
Thies said that the Veggie Patch was telling its customers about the March 9 move. Now he is just trying to get the word out that there is a delay and the market will stay at the Parkade Center.
Saunders said the contractors need good windows of weather to be able to pour the concrete and finish the steel frames for the structure of the pavilion.
The agriculture park is funded by over 500 business and people who raised $3.92 million. Those people will be recognized on a donor wall inside the pavilion at the park. Saunders said it has moved the printing deadline for those who have donated to March 22.
The park will be 50 percent done after the completion of construction early 2019. Once finished in 2021, the park will have a farm and demonstration garden, an outdoor space for a classroom, a playground, a greenhouse and barn, a stormwater nature area and an event center with a kitchen.
The goal of the park is to strengthen the community and educate Missourians about agriculture, according to the park’s website.