Madison Park Project Holds Groundbreaking Park will be new location for Farmers Market Pavilion

By Sid Riley

Thanks to a $253,000 USDA Rural Development grant, combined with other funding and grants from The Florida Community Trust, FRDAP, the Jackson County Commission and the Jackson County TDC, a lot of creative work by City Manager Jim Dean, Main Street Marianna, and the support of the City Commission, the residents of Marianna will soon have a new, million dollar, downtown park to enjoy. This park will fill several functional needs for county and city residents.

First, a new pavilion in the park will be the new home for the Farmers Market, which is gaining in popularity and usage each year. Secondly, it will provide a location for downtown festivals and events to center, with an area for entertainment and festival activities. Thirdly, it will provide a beautiful setting for citizens who just want to picnic, or even rest and enjoy life while sitting on a shaded park bench.

City Manager Jim Dean stated that the project is scheduled for completion in mid October. The actual relocation of the Farmers Market function will occur when the park is completed.

The official groundbreaking for this project was held at 11:00 on Wednesday afternoon. Marianna Mayor Roger Clay, County and City officials, and representatives from US Department of Agriculture Rural Development, including USDA State Director Richard Maycheck, Representative Brad Drake, and representatives from the offices of Allen Boyd and Marti Coley were on hand to turn a symbolic shovel full of dirt and thus begin the project.