New Route to Winter Farmers Market
Take the Hank Aaron Trail right to the gate of the farmers market at State Fair Park.
The connection to the trail is not paved (yet?), but you don’t have to ride over much grass to get in.
The gate is now open from the Milwaukee County Winter Farmers Market at State Fair Park to the Hank Aaron State Trail! As of last weekend, you can now take the trail and ride right into the parking lot at the Tommy G Thompson Youth Center at 84th and Slinger. Credit goes to Melissa Cook, WDNR Trail Manager, for working with the State Fair to get the gate open this year.
Fresh, locally grown peppers in the winter? Yum.
Since the Winter Farmers Market opened two years ago, I have been riding on the Hank Aaron State Trail until it gets too snow-covered (That section of the trail is not plowed).
While I love taking the trail to the Market, the nearest connection to the State Fair grounds used to be at 89th Street. This was particularly frustrating because I had to pedal right past the Tommy Thompson Center, but I could not get in because the gate was locked. It is really nice to be able to ride right into the market and park at the bike racks outside the main entrance.
If you have not been to this winter farmers market, I encourage you to check it out. It has vendors with a wide variety of locally grown produce you wouldn’t think you could get in the winter, like peppers, greens, leeks, etc. Of course you can get cheese, eggs, pasture raised chicken, beef and pork, but there is also Elk and locally produced charcouterie like dry-aged salami and prosciutto. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
The smooth new asphalt on the ride home ensures no bruised produce. You and your apples are on your own once you hit city streets though.
This story was originally published by the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
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Have always enjoyed working with Melissa Cook when Walker’s Point Center for the Arts young artists created an environmental art installation during our summer art camp. I bike the trail often and opening the gate is great!