Food Truck, Merchandise Vendors Can Apply To Open Shop In Forest Park

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Forest Hills entrepreneurs hoping to open a food truck or sell merchandize can apply to make that dream a reality close to home.

The NYC Parks Department is taking proposals from people looking to sell food and merchandize in mobile units throughout the city's parks, including Forest Park, the agency announced Wednesday. Vendors will operate at a given park for one to five years, the agency said.

Proposals should be "inventive and exciting," the agency said, citing examples like selling healthy to-go salads, cultural cuisines or fresh flowers to park-goers.

There are over 20 specialty vendors operating out of citywide greenspaces across the five boroughs, many of which are chosen through a proposal process.

In Brooklyn's Prospect Park, for instance, Winner, a Michelin-awarded cafe in Park Slope, was selected to open a temporary outpost this summer serving picnic fare after a similar proposal process.

The proposals take into consideration designs for mobile units — like a food truck or merchandize cart — as well as menu (or merchandize) content, the Parks Department said.

A major goal of introducing new vendors to a city park is to make "significant improvement to the quality and ambience of the park," according to the agency.

The portal for proposals, which need to be submitted by Aug. 2, can be accessed here. Find out more information about how to apply here.