Talk about a tasty Prospect!
Caretakers of Brooklyn’s Backyard want to fill the meadow with even more dining options, according to a recently released request for vendors to set up food carts at five spots around the lawn.
Leaders of green-space steward the Prospect Park Alliance on Tuesday issued a request for proposals from concessionaires interested in parking their so-called mobile-food units at locations including Grand Army Plaza, the park’s entrance at Ninth Street and Prospect Park West, the Vanderbilt Street Playground, Dog Beach, and the ball fields near 10th Avenue.
Would-be vendors hoping to cash in on sales to the park’s 10-million annual visitors must hawk their fare from a food truck, pushcart, or other wheeled storefront, according to the request, which calls for high-quality grub options at a range of prices.
Interested entrepreneurs can submit proposals to the Alliance through March 4, and applicants can increase their chances of landing a three-year vending contract by proposing environmentally friendly operations, such as carts or trucks powered by non-polluting, low-noise generators, or setups that employ water-conservation measures, according to the Alliance’s request.
And although meadow stewards hope to bring vendors to all five locations, the ultimate number of new grub hawkers will depend on the amount and strength of proposals submitted, according to Alliance spokeswoman Lucy Gardner.
The new vendors will beef up the meadow’s current food-and-beverage options, which include the Bluestone Café at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, hot-dog carts near the Long Meadow ball fields and the park’s Lincoln Road entrance, and two snack bars — Time Out, at the Parade Ground, and Pony Express, near the carousel.
And, of course, the borough’s beloved Smorgasburg festival, which brings dozens of concessionaires to a patch near Prospect Park Lake on Sundays from late March-early April through October.
