A full-time food truck roster will be at Community Park in Parksville, serving a variety of foods from local vendors. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

GOOD EATS

Food trucks secured for Parksville’s Community Park summer season

Apr 9, 2021 | 5:28 AM

PARKSVILLE — Residents and visitors to one of the most popular parks and playgrounds on the mid-Island won’t go hungry again this summer.

At their April 7 meeting, council approved a proposal from the Parksville Chamber of Commerce to rent the two pads at the Community Park and provide food truck service seven days a week at the waterfront venue.

The trucks will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day beginning May 1, 2021 through August 31, 2021.

Chamber president Kim Burden told NanaimoNewsNOW the vibe food trucks bring the park have become a staple over recent years.

“[Park goers] want to spend the day there on occasion and they don’t necessarily want to come up into town so it gives them an opportunity to not have to pack a picnic lunch and try something different.”

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A rotating roster of seven food trucks will occupy the two spaces next to the playground. At least one truck at any given time will offer various main meal options, while a second truck on snacks like mini donuts and ice cream.

“I’ve seen some pretty creative stuff coming out of mobile food vendors, when I was a kid it was hamburgers and hot dogs,” Burden said. “You’re not just getting fair food, you’re getting something that’s really amazing.”

Approximately a dozen food trucks operate regularly out of the Parksville region while more from around the Island come into the community for major events like Canada Day.

“In the past we’ve been able to fit three vendors on those pads and in busy times when the sand sculpting competition is on or there’s volleyball going on, lots of people in the park, you absolutely need all of those trucks just to keep the lineups at a minimum.”

The Chamber will pay $5,937 a month to use the space with the agreement also including an option for the Chamber to continue through September at a yet-to-be-negotiated rate.

Food truck options were vastly scaled back in the Community Park in 2020 as the pandemic negatively impacted the tourism industry.

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alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley