City Opens Parks to Vendors

New Port Richey City Council members gave final approval Tuesday, June 18 to a code amendment that opens city parks up to commercial vendors.

City Council members voted unanimously to approve the amendment allowing commercial vendors to do business in certain parks so long as the vendor has a permit, license or lease.

The only parks open to vendors under the new ordinance at this time will be Sims Park, Francis Avenue Park and the James Grey Preserve.

Under the revised code, vendors in parks can do things like rent out kayaks, canoes and bicycles or sell boat rides, food, drinks and other products and services.

The current code only allows vendors during special events.

There would be an application and permit process for vendors to set up in the parks. Vendors could face fees to pay for the permits. Those fees could include a charge for a background check. 

In a memo, parks and recreation director Elaine Smith recommended the following parks be opened up to vendors and the following commercial activities be allowed there:

Sims Park: Rental of Bikes, Kayaks and Canoes; Boat Rides.

Frances Avenue Park: Food, Drink and Ice Cream Sales; Rental of Bikes, Kayaks and Canoes.

Monthly Permit: $100 per site for everything except Boat Rides.

Monthly Permit for Boat Rides: $200 per site. This would be for boats utilizing the public dock space and docking their boats over night.