Published: Thursday, February 2, 2012
Edmonds may add concession stands to city parks
Edmonds is considering adding concessions to its waterfront parks this spring.
EDMONDS -- The city's Parks Department is looking to add concessions in its most heavily trafficked parks this spring.
At the urging of parks director Carrie Hite, the Edmonds City Council is considering concession sales for both food and recreation, including the classic hot dog and soda pop carts and paddle boat rentals.
"The waterfront parks are the most utilized," Hite said. "There are so many people in those parks, and they have to get into their cars to get a sandwich."
She envisions those parks as the ones that could best support concessionaires -- in particular, Marina Beach Park north of the ferry terminal. Yost Pool could also use some sort of food operation, she said. It currently has vending machines.
Another area she hopes to evaluate whether to enter into concession agreements with private businesses who use Edmonds parks for classes, including "Boot Camp" workout sessions.
"We now have unpermitted public land being used for private gain," she said. "If the code can be changed, then we would have agreements, ensure the operator had insurance and the city would make some money."
The move to change the code was spurred when Hite was challenged to look at a different business model for the parks.
"Due to the budget we needed to make cuts, and I thought that we could increase revenue instead to maintain the residents' level of service," she said. "We have to look at ways of doing business differently."
For example, the parks department stands to gain $50,000 as a result of a 15 percent increase in fees for people who don't live in the city limits, Hite said.
She is accepting proposals from concessionaires for the upcoming season, May through September.
"We will evaluate applications to find the best fit for the park system," she said.
Contact
Edmonds parks director Carrie Hite can be reached at 425-771-0230 or carrie.hite@ci.edmonds.wa.us.
At the urging of parks director Carrie Hite, the Edmonds City Council is considering concession sales for both food and recreation, including the classic hot dog and soda pop carts and paddle boat rentals.
"The waterfront parks are the most utilized," Hite said. "There are so many people in those parks, and they have to get into their cars to get a sandwich."
She envisions those parks as the ones that could best support concessionaires -- in particular, Marina Beach Park north of the ferry terminal. Yost Pool could also use some sort of food operation, she said. It currently has vending machines.
Another area she hopes to evaluate whether to enter into concession agreements with private businesses who use Edmonds parks for classes, including "Boot Camp" workout sessions.
"We now have unpermitted public land being used for private gain," she said. "If the code can be changed, then we would have agreements, ensure the operator had insurance and the city would make some money."
The move to change the code was spurred when Hite was challenged to look at a different business model for the parks.
"Due to the budget we needed to make cuts, and I thought that we could increase revenue instead to maintain the residents' level of service," she said. "We have to look at ways of doing business differently."
For example, the parks department stands to gain $50,000 as a result of a 15 percent increase in fees for people who don't live in the city limits, Hite said.
She is accepting proposals from concessionaires for the upcoming season, May through September.
"We will evaluate applications to find the best fit for the park system," she said.
Contact
Edmonds parks director Carrie Hite can be reached at 425-771-0230 or carrie.hite@ci.edmonds.wa.us.
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