Federal Way Farmers Market adds more parking, accessibility in 2nd week

Published 8:36 am Thursday, May 21, 2026

Federal Way Farmers Market opened the 2026 season in a new location that was received with both praise and concern.

The Farmers Market now fills South 316th Street between the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center (PAEC), which opened in 2015, and Town Square Park, which opened the following year.

The effect is like a three-tiered cake of civic development celebrating the past 10 years of growth in downtown Federal Way.

Looking up from inside Town Square Park, the canopies of the market vendors float high above the play structures filled with kids and families in the park below. Behind the vendors, cascading greenery masks a steep hill that stretches up to the PAEC, the building that crowns the whole scene.

On that highest tier next to the PAEC, an artificial turf field has sprung up in the empty lot that was once a Target: one piece of the recently installed temporary civic plaza.

During markets, a cluster of food trucks and seating areas perch there between the field, and the unique stairs intercut with a ramp that leads down to the market.

Only a few blocks away, the new light rail station is another recent addition after opening in December 2025.

With all the work to build these amenities for the community, having the Federal Way Farmers Market there rather than in a parking lot behind a declining mall seemed like the obvious answer to the city.

The challenge: topography.

To get from the PAEC to South 316th Street, there are artfully designed stairs, intercut with a ramp, to guide people down the steep change in elevation.

To get from S. 316th Street down to Town Square Park, restroom access and the parking lot, it requires at least a block of walking down an incline.

All of this has added challenges that just weren’t present at the former flat location, which by definition also had no shortage of parking.

To meet these challenges, the first market weekend opened with a designated ADA drop off area at the east entrance, designated ADA parking in Town Square Park, and a built-in ramp between S. 316th St. and the food truck cluster at the civic plaza next to the PAEC.

Despite these features, several issues came up that day that still caused concern, which were shared with the Mirror and also filled lengthy comments on Facebook after the event.

One issue was the parking areas aside from Town Square Park, and that all parking areas require guests to travel at least a block to reach the market, most with a relatively steep incline. Another is the fact that the market itself is bisected by steep stairs intercut with a lengthy ramp that includes sharp turns and no hand rail.

As just a few examples, one community member currently using crutches due to an injury described how exhausting it was to get to the food trucks.

Another guest whose mother is in her later years said she could make it up the ramp to the trucks, but with no brakes on her walker, going down the ramp was impossible. Instead of returning to the market, they just picked her up from the upper level rather than returning to the lower level festivities and the ADA pickup zone.

In another instance, the west entrance of the market was impossible to enter with a wheelchair due to the arrangement of the street blockades in relation to the curb cut.

Although there were staff on hand to unlock and open the gates, they weren’t available when at least one person in a wheelchair arrived, who then had to follow the sidewalk behind the stalls all the way almost to the other end of the market before finding another ramp with which to enter.

In response to that concern, market staff went with her to see the problem in detail and promised to remedy it the next week.

Market access improvements

Ahead of the May 16 market, the city made several changes including releasing a new map with more parking options.

Three more ADA parking places were added to Town Square Park, and more ADA parking is now available in the PAEC parking lot, the entirety of which will now be open on all market dates.

The city also added additional signage “directing visitors to available parking locations around the market, the ADA drop off zone on the east side of the market, and the ADA-accessible ramp leading to the food vendors in the civic plaza area next to the PAEC,” according to an email from the city on May 12.

The transit center parking garage right next door is the most logical place to park, but city officials said they can’t officially endorse its use for the market.

Even this parking location does have its challenges, with automatically locking doors turning a very short walk into the market to an least two-block distance on the return trip. The only elevator in the building is also on the complete opposite side of the structure from the market.

When asked if the city has considered moving all vendors up to the turf field on the civic plaza on the same level as the food trucks, the city shared the idea has been brought up, but there is no plan currently in place to do that.

The city shared in a statement after the first market that “we want to ensure all members of the Federal Way community can access and enjoy the market each week. As always, any concerns and comments can be shared directly with Farmers Market staff on site.”

The city also added that they are currently working on an agreement with a nearby local business to use its parking lot during market hours, including multiple ADA parking spaces.

Much of this work began before the market opened in its new location, but these logistical challenges can sometimes take time and this particular new parking location agreement has not been finalized.

Frustration from both community members and city council members around the access issues came not only from the challenges on that first day, but also because what they see as a failure to respond to feedback earlier on in the process.

The parking map and more information about ADA access can be found at federalwayfarmersmarket.com

Positive feedback about the new location

Despite these challenges, the new location received a lot of positive feedback as well.

Longtime supporter of the farmers market Vickie Chynoweth told the Mirror that in her opinion, “it has more of a city center vibe. I like it. It’s better than a parking lot behind a building.”

Market founder Rose Ehl said she likes the new new location, highlighting the “ambience of it with the park in the background” of the vendor tents.

Vendor Erica Pulley of E’s apothecary said she grew up in Federal Way and is just in town for a month or so visiting her mother after moving to New York.

“I like what’s happening here,” Pulley said of the changes in Federal Way, including the market and the relatively new park and performing arts center.

Recreation Manager for the city Kevin Hutchinson has been leading the organizing of the new market location along with Parks and Facilities Manager George Richen.

Overall, he said his favorite thing about seeing the market come to life in its new location is the way it has brought “the community together,” adding that the new setup “has more of a community feel.”

Hutchinson has also led on inclusive recreation at the Federal Way Community Center for years and said he also had concerns about the new location, but that its important to him and the city overall to find solutions.

As part of this goal, Hutchinson said they’ve been very thoughtful about what vendors to include, especially since the new location has less space.

“We try to mix long-term vendors with some that are new and fresh, to give people a chance to build their brand,” Hutchinson said.

For those who are asking: no, the city can’t add more vendors by creating a second row in the street because of legal requirements to have enough space in the center for an emergency vehicle to travel if needed.

Another facet of accessibility is financial access, and this focus was clear at the market. $10 healthy senior vouchers and $5 healthy kids coupons are available as supplies last. The market also participates in wider-used programs including SNAP/EBT Market Match, WIC benefits, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) and SunBucks Summer EBT.

For more information about these food access programs, visit federalwayfarmersmarket.com.