DELAWARE — Farmers’ Market shoppers will continue perusing produce, baked goods and handmade products in the middle of North Sandusky Street for the rest of the 2026 season.
After a one-month trial, the City of Delaware has decided to continue closing the block between William and Winter streets during Saturday market hours through Oct. 31.
This is the first year Main Street Delaware has moved the market from the sidewalks into the street after the organization raised concerns about pedestrian safety, saying crowded sidewalks had led to multiple close calls involving people and vehicles.
In a July 7 letter to Main Street Delaware Executive Director Courtney Graf, City Manager Paul Brake also cited pedestrian safety and continued support from the Delaware Police Department in continuing the street closure format.
“In addition to reviewing the email responses received, I have consulted with Police Chief Moore and Captain Penrod to confirm that we have not received any negative feedback that would warrant a change,” Brake wrote.
Brake cited two primary reasons for maintaining the closure: Main Street Delaware’s role as a nonprofit organization focused on promoting downtown rather than generating profit, and the city’s determination that a full street closure improves pedestrian safety.
He said police will continue making minor operational adjustments as needed but remain supportive of the closure “primarily for safety reasons.”
“The Police Department and the City support the full street closure to improve pedestrian safety,” Brake wrote. “The open-sidewalk model had become too congested and created conflicts between attendees and vehicle traffic.”
Graf said she appreciates the collaboration that has helped launch the new market format.
“I’m grateful to the City of Delaware, the Delaware Police Department, our sponsors, downtown businesses, market vendors, and everyone who has helped make this year’s Farmers’ Market such a success,” Graf told Delaware Source.
“Seeing so many people enjoying Saturday mornings together is exactly what Main Street Delaware is all about, and we look forward to welcoming even more people downtown throughout the rest of the season.”
New format initially sparked debate
The new format closes North Sandusky Street between William and Winter streets from 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday, allowing vendors to set up in the roadway while pedestrians walk through the center of the market.
Vendor vehicles are parked diagonally along the street as an additional buffer between shoppers and traffic.
Main Street Delaware said the change was prompted by years of increasing sidewalk congestion as the market grew to roughly 40 to 45 vendors each week. According to the organization, pedestrians frequently stepped into the street to navigate crowded sidewalks, leading to multiple close calls involving vehicles.
But when the proposal was introduced in May, it drew mixed reactions from downtown business owners.
Some business owners supported the change, arguing the expanded market would improve pedestrian safety and increase foot traffic for downtown businesses. Others raised concerns that closing Sandusky Street every Saturday through October could make parking, customer access and deliveries more difficult.
The city’s Parking and Safety Commission initially approved the closure only through the market’s first month while officials evaluated the new layout.
Ahead of that review, Main Street Delaware shared preliminary downtown visitation data collected through Placer.ai in coordination with the city’s Economic Development Department.
According to Main Street Delaware, the data showed a modest increase in overall downtown activity during the first month of the season compared with the same period in 2025, though the figures measure overall downtown visitation rather than Farmers’ Market attendance specifically.
The Delaware Farmers’ Market will continue operating under the current traffic plan each Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through Oct. 31.
