EZT to look at allowing food trucks on township recreation properties

By Galen Simmons

East Zorra-Tavistock (EZT) Township staff are looking at the possibility of allowing food trucks and trailers on township property.

Woodstock resident Samantha Healy recently delegated to members of council, asking if she could set up an ice cream trailer at Innerkip Park for the rest of the summer.

“Our trailer would not be a permanent fixture. It would be brought to the park each day and removed at the end of the day. I believe an ice cream trailer would be a great treat for families, children and sports teams attending the many events held at the park.”

Coun. Scott Rudy asked if allowing Healy to set up shop would open the door for others to operate on township property. The township’s chief building officer explained parks are zoned recreational and are only allowed what’s called a “refreshment room.”

“That’s why our parks are allowed to operate a little canteen,” said John Scherer, the township’s building manager. “If we allow them in, of course it opens it to anyone wanting to put a food truck in our parks. Each time they would have to come to council, currently, to get permission.”

EZT CAO Karen DePrest cautioned against the township allowing businesses to set up on municipal properties when they compete with taxpaying operations without any permit or license.

“There is currently no charge for setting up a business in the township that is transient. And although (Healy) will not be parking overnight, she’s still setting up a business that is competing with the refreshment booth in Innerkip Park.”

In an email to the Gazette, DePrest said concession booths at parks in Innerkip, Tavistock and Hickson are operated by three non-profit groups for the purposes of providing snacks and refreshments to park users as part of the “in-house” service and are included in each of the three operating agreements between the township and those organizations.  

The Hickson snack bar is staffed regularly by the Hickson Lions Club, but the canteen at the Queen’s Park pavilion in Tavistock has not been open regularly for years, aside from special events. The Gazette reached out to Innerkip Minor Baseball for comment but did not receive one.

Healy added there are no competing businesses in Innerkip selling ice cream.

A food truck was present at a recent fundraising event held at the community park. DePrest said that if the food truck was invited to attend the event, the arrangement would have been made by the event organizer, not the township.

“Any special event booking which may have invited a food truck to be in attendance would not have been coordinated through or by the township at this time, but rather by the event organization,” she said.

Coun. Steven Van Wyk said allowing food trucks is potentially a good idea, but added a policy is a must.

“I would like to get feedback from user groups like Innerkip Minor Ball and Tavistock Minor Ball to see what their feedback is. … What does Woodstock do? What is the feedback from the user groups? Do we allow one spot or two spots? How do we manage this if we get 10 requests?”

Soon, there will be requirements for organizers who want to include outside food vending as part of any special event according to the council-adopted special events policy. It comes into effect Oct. 1, and public education sessions will be held sometime in September. 

“EZT staff will research the approaches of neighbouring municipalities to mobile food vendors as well as reach out to the groups who provide food and beverage options through the concessions in each of the three parks for their feedback,” said DePrest.

She added council did not ask for a timeline on when a report would need to be completed, but they were supportive of the concept of food trucks in parks subject to guidelines and policy. 

“With only one meeting left this summer, staff intend to bring back our research and policy recommendations to a fall meeting of council for possible implementation for the 2027 budget and operating year.”

Healy hasn’t purchased the trailer yet but is hoping to get the go-ahead from the township to set up next summer.