Re: “Cottonwood Market stalls to be demolished”
You may have read or heard that Cottonwood Market’s future is uncertain. I want to assure you nothing could be further from the truth.
The City of Nelson is planning to tear down the current buildings at the end of this season, but we plan to work with the city to erect new shelters before the season begins for 2016. I am completely certain Cottonwood Market will continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.
The reason I am so certain is not just because markets director Jesse Woodward and I have been talking with the City of Nelson for several years about the future of the marketplace. It’s not just because I’m confident that together we can build a new and better market structure. And it’s not just because I know Nelson city council and staff enjoy and support our community’s market. I’m certain Cottonwood Market will continue for many years to come because our market is so much more than buildings or a location. Our market is a meeting place, a social event, and a cultural experience. Our market isn’t made up of buildings — it’s made up of people.
When the current buildings — which require tens of thousands of dollars in repairs — come down, we will mourn the end of an era. But we’ll also celebrate the beginning of a new marketplace — where more light and fewer leaks come into the market, where the buildings face the park instead of the alley, and where music, theatre, family gatherings, and many more parts of our community life can take advantage of the space throughout the week and throughout the year.
This fall, the City of Nelson will host a series of meetings on the future of Railtown, including Cottonwood Market. West Kootenay EcoSociety will be there, and we hope you will be too. In the meantime, enjoy Cottonwood Market every Saturday until the end of October, and come celebrate with us during the annual Fall Fair on Sept. 26.
Next year, Cottonwood Market will be back. And — thanks to the people who make the market amazing — it will be here for many years to come. We’ll see you at the market!
David Reid
Executive Director
West Kootenay EcoSociety