HARLINGEN — Welcome to the beach party.
County officials are seeking applicants to apply for permits to bring food trucks to E.K. Atwood Park, better known as Beach Access No. 5, on South Padre Island.
Joe E. Vega, Cameron County parks director, said four one-year permits will be issued for food trucks to sell cuisine at the beach access site.
“There have never been stationary vendors permitted to operate at E.K. Atwood.” Vega said via email. “The only vendors allowed to operate in the past have been the mobile beach vendors you see driving up and down the beach.”
Food truck operators who successfully land county permits will not be driving the beach this time, officials say.
Instead, they will be assigned a designated parking space directly in front of the new pavilion.
“As of now, we have received a number of inquiries, and we are hoping that the word gets out,” Vega added. “This is a first for the Parks Department and we’re hoping it will be a success.”
The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Jan. 29. Applications will be reviewed, and if necessary, a lottery drawing will be held to determine which vendors are awarded permits.
Applications can be obtained at the county parks’ administrative office at 33174 State Park Road 100, South Padre Island, or online at www.cameroncountyparks.com
“I do believe that on a busy day they will do very well,” Vega said.
E.K. Atwood Park
(Beach Access No. 5)
The park is located on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 1.6 miles north of Andy Bowie Park. E.K. Atwood is open seven days a week and provides vehicular beach access. The park also provides parking area, a beach side covered pavilion with picnic tables, restrooms and a boardwalk accessing the beach.
To apply for a permit
Applications can be picked up in person at the administrative office at 33174 State Park Road 100.
Applications can be downloaded from the parks website at http://www.cameroncountyparks.com
Completed applications and required documentation for vending permits can be submitted by email, or in person at the following location:
Parks and Recreation Department’s Administrative Office; 33174 State Park Road 100, South Padre Island
Contact: Blanca Macias or Edgar Yada at 956-761-3700 or Blanca.Macias@co.cameron.tx.us
