Falling leaves and nippy temperatures usually signal an end to the garden bounties of summer.

But at least one New Hope resident is envisioning an open-air farmers market that could operate on Saturdays from late May through October of 2009 somewhere in the middle of the city.

After e-mailing and then meeting with City Manager Kirk McDonald and New Hope's Community Development staff in September, Leslie Hendricks was encouraged to bring her ideas and research to a City Council work session on Monday, Oct. 20.

Last week, Hendricks suggested to the council that venues such as the Midtown or downtown farmers markets in Minneapolis are a good place to meet neighbors, talk, listen to music, buy fruits and vegetables, enjoy coffee and bakery goods, and buy wares for sale by area businesses, crafters and youth entrepreneurs.

"I would like to see some excitement generated," Hendricks said. "It could be a kind of community front porch."

Hendricks, a three-year resident of New Hope, said, "I've never done anything like this before; I've never been so excited about an idea before."

She suggested that such a market would best be city-sponsored and run by a board. Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park own their farmers markets, she said.

"Location will be very important," Hendricks said. "We will need ample parking. That is a critical component. I've already made some contacts with business owners. We have a lot of groundwork to cover."

Her first choice of locations would be the former Big Lots parking lot north of the Kmart store, she said.

Metro-area models include those that are city-run (Maple Grove and Richfield), those that are board-run/city-sponsored markets (Hopkins) and privately run markets such as the one in Minneapolis, according to a memo to the council from Community Development Director Curtis Jacobsen and Community Development Assistant Eric Weiss.

"Ms. Hendricks and city staff are proposing a board-run market - most likely set up as a nonprofit - that would receive city support through staff time, advertisement and possibly startup funds," the memo stated.

A similar partnership exists between the city and New Hope's Back Acres Garden Club, according to the memo. The club provides the labor and organizes the planting, and the city provides materials and support.

The board for a farmers market, comprised of residents and businesses, would be responsible for soliciting vendors, securing the market location and insurance and staffing the site on market days, the memo stated.

"In our continual struggle to find community and ways to connect with each other, I find this to be a remarkable concept," Councilmember John Elder said. "Your work is very thorough. I would like to see it continue to move forward."

A Saturday morning farmers market has become an institution in Madison, Wis., according to Councilmember Dan Stauner.

He suggested that area merchants would be the best sponsors for such a project in New Hope.

"I would be surprised if you didn't get enthusiastic support from them," Stauner said.

Mayor Martin Opem said all five of the council members are in favor of a farmers market in New Hope.

"I like the corporate community- sponsored [model] run by a board the best," Opem said. "We [the city] will help where we can."

Opem suggested that Hendricks come back to the council in a month or two to update them on plans for the market.

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The board for a farmers market, comprised of residents and businesses, would be responsible for soliciting vendors, securing the market location and insurance and staffing the site on market days, the memo stated.

"In our continual struggle to find community and ways to connect with each other, I find this to be a remarkable concept," Councilmember John Elder said. "Your work is very thorough. I would like to see it continue to move forward."

A Saturday morning farmers market has become an institution in Madison, Wis., according to Councilmember Dan Stauner.

He suggested that area merchants would be the best sponsors for such a project in New Hope.

"I would be surprised if you didn't get enthusiastic support from them," Stauner said.

Mayor Martin Opem said all five of the council members are in favor of a farmers market in New Hope.

"I like the corporate community- sponsored [model] run by a board the best," Opem said. "We [the city] will help where we can."

Opem suggested that Hendricks come back to the council in a month or two to update them on plans for the market.

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.