The Downtown Development Authority is planning a new farmers' market, and it's looking for community input.

The market, which will be located in downtown Casper, will feature family-based activities, live entertainment, food vendors, produce and farmers' goods, according to Tina Wulf, executive director of the DDA.

"Having a market in a more central location is in the best interest of all residents," Wulf said. "Casper can certainly support a second market."

The current farmers' market in Casper, located at the fairgrounds on the west side of town, is run by the Master Gardeners. The DDA's original idea didn't involve development of a second market, but an expanded single market that would include participants from the Master Gardeners' market.

"We had a desire to see it continue to grow and to be something more than what it had been," Wulf said.

However, the Master Gardeners weren't largely interested. Thus came the development of a second market.

"We still welcome them to the table," Wulf said. "They have 25 years' worth of a good track record."

Wulf, who has attended the Master Gardeners' farmers' market in the past, said she thinks residents could benefit from a larger and more community-based market.

"It doesn't take very long for the best produce out there to be gone, sometimes in an hour or less," Wulf said. "People come early, know what they want, get what they came for and leave. It's crowded, and there's no community aspect."

Donna Cuin, a master gardener, said the Master Gardeners have mixed feelings about the development of a new market.

"We're in hopes that this will give vendors another opportunity and customers another opportunity," Cuin said. "And we hope that the committee that forms out of this will make sure that this second market won't be in direct competition with the current market."

Wulf said she hopes that entertainment and activities will make the new market more community-oriented.

"We want it to be family-friendly, young professional-friendly - we want people to come and not even feel that they have to buy," Wulf said. "They could come to people watch or have a cup of coffee or visit with neighbors. And if they choose to buy, great."

Wulf also hopes that the new market could benefit nonprofit groups in the area, possibly by asking vendors to donate up to 10 percent of their profits to a different nonprofit entity each week.

And because the vision is for a "community" market, Wulf said, Casper area community members will be vital to the planning process. That's why no exact location has been chosen for the new market - interested Casper residents will decide where they want the market to be, how big it should be and when or how often it should take place.

"We'll start low-key," Wulf said. "However, that doesn't mean that the sky isn't the limit. It will continue to evolve as people come to the table and refine the plan. We want people to share their dreams for what the market could be."

Reach reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com

For more information

A meeting about the proposed Community Farmers' Market will take place today from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 300 S. Wolcott (in the boardroom at Bank of the West). Some Master Gardeners will be in attendance. For more information, contact Tina Wulf at (307) 235-6710 or Pat Nagel at (307) 265-1421.