Politics & Government

Prospect Park May Soon Boast New Food Vendors

The New York Park's Department is seeking inventive new food vendors for New York City parks.

Prospect Park-goers may soon have more than just hot dogs to nosh on if they forget to pack a snack.

The New York Park’s Department today issued a request for proposals for new mobile food vendors in parks throughout the city, including Prospect Park.

The proposal particularly calls for food vendors of the non-hot dog or pretzel variety.

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“Parks will view favorably menus that are inventive and interesting, serve a variety of options beyond hot dogs and pretzels, and that incorporate ethnically diverse and/or healthy food choices,” the request for proposal said.

Last year, the Parks Department favored such options at both Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Tavern on the Green parking lot in Central Park, which boast food vendors including Brooklyn-based Calexico and Blue Marble Ice Cream.

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Any additional food vendors, especially more inventive ones, would be welcome in Prospect Park, which currently boasts only a hot dog and soda vendor at Ninth Street and Prospect Park West.

The park has a few other stationary dining options—namely the Movable Feast Café at the Picnic House, the Parade Ground Snack Bar and the Songbird Café at the Boathouse—though they are closed for much of the winter and offer only light fare such as sandwiches and smoothies.

The lack of interesting food options in the park even prompted an Argentinean woman from Windsor Terrace to start selling her homemade empanadas in the park last fall.

Press 195: Prospect Park, anyone?


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