Farmers market stays in Legacy Park as city presses for library-lot return Play

Malibu’s farmers market will continue inside Legacy Park this Sunday, as the city continues to try to convince the Cornucopia Foundation to move its market back across the street into the parking lot at the Malibu Library.

Weeks of negotiations have been going on between the city and the foundation, which has stubbornly refused to honor the terms of its city permits.

The Malibu farmers market has permits to operate in the parking lot shared by the library and Malibu college on the north side of the street. During the construction of the new Malibu building, the city allowed the farmers market to relocate onto the south side of Civic Center, adjacent to Malibu Legacy Park.

The words “adjacent to” are very important. The park itself sits on land that the city bought 15 years ago with the express condition that no commercial activity ever take place in the park. That’s in the deed, and the city theoretically could lose ownership of the park if it allows commercial activities in it.

Assistant City Manager Gregory Kajszo tells KBUU that the city is making great progress with the County, which owns the library lot. He says the city is not going to prevent the market from setting up in Legacy Park this weekend. And, he says, the city truly values the Cornucopia Foundation partnership and wants to keep working closely with them to find the best path forward.