Food trucks in the park? Eugene set to open up more public spaces for local vendors

Eugene wants to liven up the summer parks experience with a new pilot program designed to draw in food truck and cart vendors.

Three park locations in town allow food vendors to conduct business already — part of Alton Baker Park, Oakmont Park and Washington Jefferson Park. This expanded program allows vendors to obtain permits for these parks and an additional three: Skinner Butte RiverPlay, Striker Field Park and Maurie Jacobs Park.

Elissa Gavette, parks and open space community engagement coordinator, said the food trucks in parks program has been long established but hasn’t been regularly utilized by vendors since pre-pandemic.

These park spaces don’t regularly provide utilities like power and water to vendors, so their rigs must be self-sufficient to receive an operating permit. Without utility hook-ups, permits are relatively low-cost, ranging from $30 to $200 a month depending on how many days the vendor wants to operate.

Gavette said that partnering food vendors with spaces in parks seemed like a no-brainer and a great way to enhance the summer park experience.

“During the summer, some of these playgrounds are packed every day,” Gavette said.

“I think it makes so much sense because you have whole families coming out, you’ve got kids working up an appetite, they’re hungry and I think families can stay longer, play longer, they can have a delicious meal option right there and they can feel good about supporting their local businesses. It’s so great that we can be that connector.”

Interest forms have been flowing in steadily since the city’s announcement of the pilot program and Gavette said the feedback she received from vendors has been overwhelmingly positive. If all goes well through the permitting and planning process, park-goers this summer can expect to find foods from tacos to ice cream at participating park locations. Size constraints mean only two vendors at a time.

“It’s great that we’ve had so much interest because this is something that could really make such a difference for people’s experience at the parks and could enhance the experience so much,” Gavette said.

“We’re excited about it and to be in great partnership with local businesses.”

As the vendor interest and permitting process is in motion, there are no confirmed vendors yet, but Gavette said that doesn’t lessen the excitement surrounding this project.

“I think we all see parks as this place of connection and community and so being able to connect people with these businesses and provide that support feels like a natural partnership,” Gavette said.

“It’s just a way that we see we can support the business community.”

Hannarose McGuinness is The Register-Guard’s growth and development reporter. Contact her at 541-844-9859 orhmcguinness@registerguard.com