Fancy an ice cream, a cup of coffee, a hot dog or some other tasty cuisine on your visit to Town Centre Park?
This spring and summer the City of Coquitlam is experimenting with a program to bring more diverse food offerings to the popular downtown park.
“We want to pull the vending right into the park itself, and we want it to serve people who are walking around the lake, playing tennis or having fun with their kids in the playground,” explained Kathleen Reinheimer, manager of parks for the city of Coquitlam.
Beginning this April, private vendors will be able to set up food trucks and carts in the park where thousands of people gather each summer. They will be located in a vendor hub in Lot D off Trevor Wingrove Way.
Visitors who purchase something to eat or drink will be able to enjoy their treat at a pop up cafe with tables, chairs and umbrellas that will be set up next to the vendors on the lawn.
In addition to traditional fare, such as hot dogs, the city hopes vendors with diverse food choices will apply to the expressions of interest request.
“I’m just hoping there’s a nice array of choices so we can find out what the public wants.”
Reinheimer said the concept builds off the city’s temporary arrangement with Rocky Point Ice Cream, which will start selling its ice cream at the park in late April.
Rocky Point Ice Cream will anchor the vendor hub and will offer scheduled daily service while other vendors approved by the city will be able to operate based on weather and demand.
Called TCP Eats, the food program should provide a more consistent food truck presence that park-goers will be able to rely on.
At the end of the season, vendors and park visitors will be surveyed to see how well TCP Eats performed with information used to improve food concessions at the park over the long term.
Vendors will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis, with the goal of not duplicating food offerings. To apply, visit www.coquitlam.ca.
