Winamac Park Board Votes to Allow Vendors in Town Park

Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

Vendors may now set up shop in the Winamac Town Park. The Winamac Park Board approved a resolution Monday that allows vendors and establishes some guidelines. Anyone selling items in the park will have to provide proof of insurance to the town. Park Board President Courtney Poor also requested that vendors tell the town in advance when and where they’d like to operate.

The park board didn’t designate a specific area for vendors, but left it up to Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo to assign locations. DeLorenzo said he’d like to keep vendors from competing against nonprofit organizations selling items to raise funds.

Board member Pat Bawcum suggested that vendors be charged a $100 yearly permit fee, since food vendors would likely mean an increase in trash. In the end, board members decided to let vendors use the park free of charge, at least for the first year. They plan to review the system each year and make changes, if necessary.

The resolution was created after the DeFries family approached the park board, seeking permission to set up their concession trailer in the park. The park board formally granted that request Monday. However, board members noted that an ice cream truck also passes through the town park, and it would also need to be registered with the town, in order to continue.