Fueling Philadelphia’s Parks

Services: Program Design / Program Management / Stakeholder Engagement

PHL Open for Business: Vending in Parks

City of Philadelphia Commerce Department, Philadelphia, PA 2025

Philadelphia’s vibrant food truck sector faces expansion barriers due to a lengthy and complex RFP process. These hurdles limit small business participation and reduce the potential to bring vibrancy and activity to the city’s high-traffic park spaces. In anticipation of increased tourism and park activity in 2026, city leaders sought ways to simplify permitting and licensing while maintaining compliance needs and supporting equitable economic opportunities for more vendors.

Rvesta Consulting partnered with the Philadelphia Commerce Department, Parks and Recreation,  and other city stakeholders to assess current vending processes and explore actionable reforms. Our team mapped existing workflows, conducted research on peer cities, and convened a focus group with food truck vendors to understand challenges and opportunities from the perspective of the people most affected.

Based on this research and stakeholder engagement, we developed a future-state vending process to simplify food truck permitting and licensing, making it more accessible for small businesses to operate in city parks. The process offered a roadmap with actionable options to enhance park experiences, support equitable economic opportunities, and prepare for increased tourism and park activity ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.