Food Trucks Now Operating at Fairfax County Parks

By William Callahan

Have you enjoyed any pulled pork sandwiches or Korean barbecue from food trucks in Fairfax County parks this summer?

Those 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.

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.

A seventh application is being processed, and officials are still accepting applications for two other parks, including Burke's Rolling Valley West Park.

• Food Trucks Coming Soon to Rolling Valley West 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

Lake Fairfax Park – Ducky’s Grub

Mason District Park – La Clicenita

Nottoway Park – Ducky’s Grub

Oak Marr Park – Hardy’s BBQ

Pine Ridge Park – Rio Churrasco on Wheels

Rolling Valley West Park – Still accepting applications

Wakefield Park – Application pending and selection process is underway

More information on the pilot program and application process can be found on the Fairfax County website.