Food truck to return to Fox Lake's Lakefront Park this summer
Fox Lake officials are allowing a food truck to again serve food at the village's Lakefront Park on weekends this summer.
Fox Lake Parks and Recreation Director Amy Serafin said a food service vendor contract was approved by the village board Tuesday night that will allow the food truck to return to the park along Nippersink Lake on weekends between May 28 and Aug. 28.
Serafin said a food truck from Big Daddy's Dogs and Creamery will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
"It was open in the past and it did very well," she said. "We're hoping it does well again and the program can expand next year."
Mayor Donny Schmit said the food service truck did "real well" when the village approved its initial permit on a test basis in 2014.
"It started out slow, but as the season went on, people loved it," Schmit said. "People would drive up and order or climb off the boats and get food."
Despite its initial success, the food permit for the vendor was canceled in 2015 because the village was expecting to use a state grant to fund renovations on the Lakefront Park, he said. However, the grant was suspended by Gov. Bruce Rauner, so no work was ever completed at the park, Schmit said.
"We prepared the work on the park and were all set to go, but the rug was pulled out from under us," he said. "We have to start from scratch now."
Schmit said he is hopeful the food vendor will again catch on with residents, tourists and boaters.
"I'm actually kind of upset that we took that year off, but what can you do?" he said. "We'll start from scratch and see if we can't get it to take off again."