Heard at Parksville Community park recently:
Question from a visitor to Parksville: Hi, where can we find some food?
Answer from a resident: There is no food available in the park, as the city decided to close the concession and convert that into washrooms and toilets at a cost of more than $300,000. The contractors are slowly working on that and the hope is that we have new washrooms and toilets coming June or July. For now we have those Porta-potties to help out — they are connected to avoid falling over if only one is in use.
Question: OK, but what about that food?
Answer: Well, the city also decided to get two food trucks instead of that concession. The first food truck contract fell apart and there are still no takers for the second truck, while the pads for the trucks are also still under construction. Word is now that six trucks could be contracted to be used alternately.
Question: How long is all that going to take?
Answer: It might take until the end of the season until it is all done.
Visitor’s final comment: I’m from Portland, Ore. We now have whole streets with food trucks ready at all times. It’s very popular with foodies. Maybe your city guys could learn something about timing and so on from us.
Pieter de Reuver
Parksville