Parking Gridlock At The Nashville Farmers’ Market Could Be Relieved By November

The parking situation at the Nashville Farmers’ Market has been bad enough to hurt business and turn some people away. But the shortage of spots is on its way to being resolved, officials said Wednesday.

Leaders at the market say the circling cars reached “crisis” level this spring, when half of the spaces were given over to the construction site for the new Tennessee State Museum.

That was especially tough on shoppers, who often arrived to find many of the remaining spots already filled by the vendors and farmers who work there.

Now, the vendor parking will be moved to a new lot, one street away on 6
^th Avenue, next to Bicentennial Mall.

“It is within safe, short walking distance through the park. And I think it’s a much better solution than the other options that we looked at,” said market director Tasha Kennard.

She’d been scrambling for an answer, and briefly considered bringing the vendors in by shuttle bus.

Instead, a deal with the state government will open one of its lots within walking distance. It will bring the market’s parking from about 195 spots to 285.

The agreement still needs final approvals, including by the Metro Council, and about $140,000 in site work. The lot could be ready in November.

The market’s board of directors also heard Wednesday that work is moving forward on the first phase of $6 million in improvements to the market grounds and facilities, including its bathrooms.