Hungry in Prospect Park.....

brooklynmodern · March 2010

Are pretzel carts and the like not allowed in Prospect Park? The other day I went in for a walk and got hungry. There were no pushcarts a la central park to be found. It would be a great place to relax with some hot chocolate and snacks in the winter/fall. Water/fruit in the summer. But then, of course, there'd be litter.

friscopete · March 2010

I usually find the Carts along Prospect Park West or at the entrance to the park across from the library.

hunter.gatherer · March 2010

There's plenty to eat in the park:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boojee/sets/72157601254739246/

I've never been on Steve Brill's tour (check photos in link), but always pick scallions and mulberries.

brooklynmodern · March 2010

Holy cow! That tour is brilliant! I'm so taking that.

Still tho, we need a pushcart inside the park with healthy snacks. Actually, there's a restaurant in the boathouse but I think it opens in May.

walkathon · March 2010

There will be lots of pushcarts in the park but they haven't set up for the season yet, maybe April 1st is their start date.

tybur6 · March 2010

There's usually only the 2 carts... the one at the Grand Army Plaza entrance, and then the one on Prospect Park West side (actually on Park Drive). Near that playground and the bandshell... around 9th street?

magicube · March 2010

tybur6 wrote: There's usually only the 2 carts... the one at the Grand Army Plaza entrance, and then the one on Prospect Park West side (actually on Park Drive). Near that playground and the bandshell... around 9th street?

Yes, at the 9th Street entrance.

yosimite samantha · March 2010

I've seen a food truck at the Picnic House.

brooklynmodern · March 2010

Will look out for these. However, I'm assuming it's the expected street fare: soggy pretzels, corn syrup drinks, potato chips. What we need is one of those West Coast (portland/seattle) food vendors with a cappuccino machine and pastry. I bet it costs 30k for a permit to sell those hot dogs in the Prospect Park.
-gl

opossumqueen · March 2010

brooklynmodern wrote: Will look out for these. However, I'm assuming it's the expected street fare: soggy pretzels, corn syrup drinks, potato chips. What we need is one of those West Coast (portland/seattle) food vendors with a cappuccino machine and pastry. I bet it costs 30k for a permit to sell those hot dogs in the Prospect Park.
-gl

The actual problem is that the city only issues a certain number of permits and there are so many people waiting for one now, I think they aren't even taking more applications for years and no plans to make more permits any time soon. There are tons of reg's on this. Besides those 3 or 4 carts already in the park, anyone else selling food could end up with a fine.

If someone wants to start a cart with fresh produce in certain areas (specific low SES nabes) a program is in place that will help them get a special permit for this. The program is meant make healthy food options available in areas that don't have them.

tybur6 · March 2010

Yeah - I don't think it's 3 or 4 carts... I think it's 2 carts that appear in 3 or 4 locations (plus the wandering italian ice folks periodically)

(My understanding - please correct me if I'm wring) The permit problem is that they are not area/borough specific. If you *finally* got a permit after years of waiting and paying lots of money... would you set up shop in Brooklyn or Central Park?

I think this is shifting... but not very fast. Think about the Yellow Cabs. They PARK and are BASED in Brooklyn, but until *very recently* it was impossible to get a cab within Brooklyn. The money was in Manhattan. That's slowly shifting to match reality.

Hungry in Prospect Park.....

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