WATERVILLE – When Meredith Parker directs the set-up for the finale Parker Square Community Flea Market on Aug. 16 – a large event with more than 70 vendors, food trucks, music and a bounce house – she’ll be thinking of her grandmother.
As a member of the Waterville Historical Society, Maryann Parker rallied volunteers and led efforts to raise funds and restore some of Waterville’s earliest homes and structures in order to preserve and promote the city’s history.
When she passed in 2015, Maryann’s estate donated $150,000 to a project that continued her legacy: restoring the riverfront site back into a public square.
Parker Square, named for Maryann, now has a scenic overlook, swings, a large green space bordered by sidewalks, and an arched entryway. But before 1886, when the first Waterville School was built on the site, the land was used for residents to meet up and sometimes graze cattle. When the last school was razed in 2017, the city began working on plans to renovate the property into a passive park for public use.
In the years since its completion, Parker Square has provided much-needed green space along the river, with guests of the Roche de Boeuf Festival and holiday events utilizing the area. But the flea market – launched last year by Old House proprietor Aggie Alt, is the first regular use of the space. Parker Square is an ideal location for the flea market, because customers pushing wheelchairs, walkers or strollers can visit all of the booths while on an even sidewalk, she added.
“I wanted to create an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their products and services to the community, and for people to come see the park while doing some shopping,” Alt said.
Soon after its launch, Meredith joined the effort, leading the marketing, promotion and coordination of vendors and entertainment for the flea market, which features vendors ranging from produce and flowers to artisan-made gifts.
Teaming up with Meredith has expanded the reach of the market, Alt said.
It’s grown to 67 vendors and four food trucks set up during the July event. The final market of the season is Sunday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Meredith said she expects it to be the best yet.
Five food trucks will be on site: Leanna’s Bananas, Turk Farms Produce, Koral Hamburg, Big Mealz on Wheelz and First Sip Coffee. Also on the lineup, a bounce house and music by Sugar Mountain Band.
“They play classic rock, folk and country music,” Meredith said.
For the vendors, the market provides valuable exposure to the community.
“A lot of the vendors have returned because sales have been good,” she said.
Some of the items for sale include antiques and collectibles, custom birdhouses, holiday decor, handmade soap and body care items, jewelry, 3D printed toys, laser-cut items, woodworking, rocks, paintings and photography, metal designs, glass garden flowers, hand-poured candles, chainsaw carvings and a Tarot card reader. Three local bread bakers and two local dessert makers always sell out, Meredith added.
While the market is an attraction in itself, the visitors who come from all over the area are also dining in local restaurants and patronizing local businesses.
“And they’re checking out our beautiful downtown,” Alt said.
During the July 27 Waterville City Council meeting, Meredith presented a $500 donation from the proceeds of this year’s events as a gesture to help with further improvements to the park that bears her grandmother’s name.
“The goal is to use the new park or town square as it was originally intended nearly 200 years ago,” Meredith said. “I hope this small gesture of sharing the wealth from our event might serve as a catalyst for other organizations to make donations.”
