What began as an experiment to determine if people would patronize food trucks in Hemming Plaza has become a new Downtown lunch option two days a week.
The city Parks & Recreation Department is promoting "Food Trucks in the Plaza" from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Thursday and Friday.
"It's simple. We started it as a way to reconnect people with the plaza," said Pam Roman, city spokeswoman.
She said the program is scheduled to continue until further notice while the city considers response to a Request for Proposals to manage and program the plaza.
Friends of Hemming Plaza submitted the only proposal. The plan as presented would seek to employ a nine-member staff with a budget of $915,000 in the first year. According to the proposal, the group would raise $150,000 with the city funding the remainder, $765,000.
As long as the city is managing the park and people are patronizing the food trucks, the program will continue.
"Whether someone else comes in or not, we wanted to get something started," said Roman.
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Food Trucks in the Plaza schedule
Thursday, Jan. 30: Mama's Food, Cravingz Mobile Kitchen and J&T Coffee Co.
Friday, Jan. 31: Taste of the Islands, Swedish Bistro and Front Porch Kettle Corn
Thursday, Feb. 6: Mama's Food, Transcend 2000 and Front Porch Kettle Corn
Friday, Feb. 7: Gourmet Aviator, Up in Smoke BBQ and Swedish Bistro
Thursday, Feb. 13: Cravingz Mobile Kitchen, Taste of the Islands and J&T Coffee Co.
Friday, Feb. 14: Dirty Birds Wings on the Fly, Streetrods and Kona Ice of Ponte Vedra
Thursday, Feb. 20: Mama's Food, Transcend 2000 and Front Porch Kettle Corn
Friday, Feb. 21: Swedish Bistro, Up in Smoke BBQ and Kona Ice of Ponte Vedra
Thursday, Feb. 27: Cravingz Mobile Kitchen, Taste of the Island and J&T Coffee Co.
Friday, Feb. 28: Dirty Birds Wings on the Fly, Gourmet Aviator and Streetrods.
(Schedule subject to change. Visit jaxparks.com for updates.)