Every other Sunday since 2021, vendors of the Mobile Bay Maker's Market have provided Fairhope residents and visitors a one-stop, local business shopping experience. On June 30, the vendors set up for the final time at South Beach Park.

The Mobile Bay Maker's Market was created by Fairhope native Amanda Webb, owner of Wild Magnolia Kombucha, who was looking for a place to sell her kombucha in her hometown. Her inspiration came from her experience selling at the Palafox Market in Pensacola, Florida.

While the market started small, it now has a base of 120 local businesses that participate (though in the heat of the summer, the number is usually around 60) that attract hundreds to the park to shop, eat from food trucks and enjoy the park.

Webb said she noticed the South Beach Park calendar was increasing in events. She said she set up a meeting with Paige Crawford, director of community affairs, in April and learned the city had accepted a bid for Fairhope's Working Waterfront project that has been in the works for over six years. Webb said Crawford said she didn't know when work would begin. Webb asked to be notified when a decision was made on the date to close the park so she could make plans for the market.

Webb said she followed up a few weeks later and heard nothing. Then, a waterspout tornado went through town, and she got a call the next day.

"I got a call from Parks and Rec saying 'Hey, they wanted me to call you and tell you that you cannot do any more markets at all starting immediately,'" Webb recounted.

The final market was June 30.

Webb spent weeks searching for a new location. When asked if she would consider outside of Fairhope, her answer was a resounding no.

"I was born and raised here. My whole family is from here, and we want to keep it in Fairhope for sure," she said. "And I had 120 vendors go spend money to get a City of Fairhope license."

Since the market's start, Webb said she has rented the park in advance and carried insurance. All 120 vendors have a business license for the City of Fairhope and pay sales tax. She has a vendor that drops off and picks up porta potty for every market, and she and her vendors try to ensure the park looks better than they found it. The sudden change sent her looking for a new home.

Why the sudden change? Webb was told it was due to the pending start of work at the park, but during a July 8 city council work session, Crawford spoke about an ordinance amendment her staff is working on to "protect the public health, safety and welfare by providing policy and procedure for park usage within the City of Fairhope."

During Crawford's presentation, the parks she spoke about were the Fairhope Beach Pavilion, Henry George Park and South Beach Park. She said internally they have been looking at the park policy and that it needs some updates.

"We have seen a heavy amount of traffic in our parks, more so than we've ever seen," Crawford said.

Crawford said rental rates for the three parks are the same, $75 for nonprofit renters and $150 for regular rental for four hours. She said there are three permitted uses defined in the ordinance: weddings, catered receptions and banquets and festivals.

"One thing we thought of enacting was putting a two events per organization in a calendar year," Crawford said. "We're seeing a lot of these organizations that are not really from Fairhope. They're coming from all over, say Mobile and Pensacola. They know that Fairhope is a popular destination and that they can draw a crowd down at the beach."

Crawford also brought up the topic of subleasing.

"One thing that we did want to add that I know I've spoken with (city employee) Marcus McDowell about is maybe putting something in there for subleasing city parkland," Crawford said. "I know we do have a few folks who apply for franchise agreements down at the park. We just want to make sure that we're protected as far as for somebody coming in, even if it is a nonprofit and selling spaces."

Crawford asked council for direction or what they wanted to see included, and Councilman Corey Martin commented, "Definitely the part about the subleasing. I mean, that's not going to happen. I mean, we can't have that. I don't know how the rest of the gentlemen feel, but when we reduced the rates, I don't think we meant to reduce the rates and then people go out and make money on public facilities."

In an emailed statement, Crawford said: "At this time, it is just a discussion. The city council has not made any amendments to the ordinance, and we will be discussing it further at a future work session. I really do not have anything concrete yet to pass along."

Over the past few years, council has had angry residents who have spoken out against organizations renting the park for events such as Prism United's Color Fairhope with Pride Festival. Prism United is a Mobile-based organization with a Fairhope group. During a July 8 city council meeting, members of the Faith, Family, Freedom Coalition of Baldwin County and a few other groups voiced opposition over the city allowing a drag brunch event in a city building.

Gulf Coast Media asked Crawford if the move to amend the ordinances for the city parks was related to the Mobile Bay Maker's Market or Prism United's Pride events.

"Just housekeeping," Crawford replied via email. "We are looking to update ordinances that haven't been touched since 2016 and some even around 2007."