I encourage you to cite this report and the ‘loneliness epidemic’ when preparing proposals to city or county entities or public health advocates. Framing the market as a connector and place of civic engagement will allow your market to write a proposal to fund children’s activities like POP, and to offer more seating and events in order to bridge to more people and to allow more bonding.

There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators,” said Holt-Lunstad. With an increasingly aging population, the effect on public health is only anticipated to increase. Indeed, many nations around the world now suggest we are facing a ‘loneliness epidemic.’
….adding that community planners should make sure to include shared social spaces that encourage gathering and interaction, such as recreation centers and community gardens.

Source: Social isolation, loneliness could be greater threat to public health than obesity –