By HERB BOOTH
Special correspondent
Grand Prairie’s hot spot during the 1950s was Main Street.
But the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike (now Tom Landry Highway or Interstate-30) came along and cities that thrived along Main Street or old Highway 80 suffered.
Now, city officials are trying to breathe some of that 1950s life into Grand Prairie again. Saturday, Oct. 24, part of that nostalgia will reappear in Market Square, Grand Prairie’s new farmers market.
A street party will kick off the grand opening of Market Square, 120 W. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. The party had been scheduled for Sept. 26 but construction was delayed.
Market Square, at the northeast corner of Main and Northwest Second streets, is not only a farmers’ market but at event venue. Farmers’ market will be open 8 a.m. to sellout Thursdays and Saturdays next season.
Admission to the street party is free with a canned good, which will be donated to North Texas Food Bank. Anyone who donates a grocery sack filled with canned goods will receive a free farmers’ market bag. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, entertainment will include arts, crafts, bounce houses, balloon artists, face painting, magicians, stilt walker, juggler, a salsa recipe contest, chef demonstrations and concerts.
Market Square is part of the city’s efforts to revitalize, renovate and improve downtown that started with the remodeling the building that now houses the municipal court. The effort continued with Uptown Theatre opening last year.
Amy Sprinkles, the city’s communications and marketing director, said the train tracks that run parallel to Main and Jefferson streets were deemed a quiet zone earlier this year. She said the city closed two crossings and put medians at other crossings so the train doesn’t have to “blow its horn from one end of the city to the other. It’s a big benefit to downtown merchants.”
Ms. Sprinkles said city leadership made the conscious decision to stay in downtown even though the nearby police department and seniors center are moving to new buildings at the Warrior Trail and State Highway 161 intersection.
“We were faced with the decision do you want to stay where you are or consolidate and move somewhere else,” Ms. Sprinkles said. “We decided not to abandon downtown and now we can create a center here in downtown and one there, too.”
She said the city’s economic development department is working with consultants to get an assessment of all the buildings in downtown.
“We’ll find out current conditions and what needs to be done to return some of this Mid-Century Modern architecture to its glory of the 1950s,” Ms. Sprinkles said.
National Day of Writing in GPISD
A National Day of Writing will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Grand Prairie school district. The National Council of Teachers of English is sponsoring the event. Everyone across the district will stop at 9 a.m. and write an affirmation for anyone they choose – a teacher, former teacher, parent, coach or anyone who has had a positive influence in your life. Remember an affirmation is meant to be shared!
Foundation tees up for children
The Grand Prairie ISD Education Foundation will be hosting its 6th annual Golf “Fore” Children Tournament Friday, October 23, at Prairie Lakes Golf Club in Grand Prairie.
A golf team (four players) can play for $500 and individual players for $125. Entry fee includes green fees, range balls, shared golf cart, full hot breakfast, drink tickets and a catered barbecue lunch. Additional guest lunches can be added at $20 per lunch. Call Diana Mora at 972-237-5487 for more information.
Dog costume contest set
Central Bark Dog Park, 2222 W. Warrior Trail, is sponsoring a dog costume contest at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Entry fee is $2 per dog, $5 for two dogs and $6 for dog and person. E-mail kstacy@texastrustcu.org for more information.
E-mail Herb Booth at herbviv@sbcglobal.net for tips and items to include in this column.
