Community Corner

Food Trucks Now Operating at Mason District Park

La Clicenita is one of five food trucks to vend at six parks across the county — and more are on the way, says the Fairfax County Park Authority.

By William Callahan

Have you visited Mason District Park lately? There's a new lunch option available to residents now that food trucks can be found at parks across Fairfax County

Pullled pork sandwiches and Korean are among the options park-goers have found in the past few weeks, after the Fairfax County Park Authority gave the green light to five food trucks as part of a new pilot program to bring new, exciting and healthier options to Fairfax County parks.

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The five trucks, which serve spins on barbecue, paninis and fusion dishes, have been operating for a couple of weeks at six county parks.

The program, which was launched in June, will bring vendors to a total of nine county parks.

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La Clicenita will serve up lunchtime grub to Annandale residents in Mason District Park.

A seventh application is being processed, and officials are still accepting applications for two other parks, including Annandale's Wakefield Park.

Fairfax County doesn’t have specific regulations on food trucks, but vendors cannot park vehicles on any street in a business district to sell merchandise.

These zoning requirements have caused problems for both vendors and the county, especially in the Tysons area, where there have been a number of disputes over parking tickets in the last year.

Last month, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors added food truck regulations to a list of 19 new zoning amendments for staff to work on.

“[Vendors are] interested in working in Fairfax County and we’re interested in having them,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said at the time. “We can accommodate food trucks in a way that is safe and also is not creating an issue regarding parking.”

Supervisors are committed to making the most of food trucks in the county, but they need to figure out the zoning first, they said.

“This is an opportunity for revitalizing communities,”  Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) said.

As the popularity of food trucks has boomed in Washington, DC in recent years, other jurisdictions have started to figure out how best to bring food trucks to their own streets.

The City of Alexandria tabled a proposal for food trucks in early June, citing a need for more time to consider the options.

For now, Fairfax County has the following food trucks on contracts through Dec. 31, 2013.

Vendors are allowed to make their own hours of operation within the hours parks are open.

Arrowbrook Park – Still accepting applications

Baron Cameron Park – Red Bone Fusion Caribbean Catering


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