Trail’s Gyro Park concession stand will be back in business in May after city council approved an increase operating grant to the group that will run it.
The concession has been closed since 2019, first due to the pandemic and then last year because Career Development Services, which has traditionally operated it, had a staffing shortage and no one else responded to a call for proposals.
Career Development Services says it is willing to run the concession this year, but asked the city for $30,000 to offset the cost of operations, up from $20,000 in previous years due to increases in the minimum wage and cost of supplies.
Council delayed a decision while it sought more information from the group, which came back with a revised request for $25,000, which council approved. Without the grant, the organization said it could not offer the service.
The concession is normally open for special events in May and September; from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in June, plus from 3 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays for Music in the Park; and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week in July and August.
According to a staff report, the city will go through another public request for proposals next year.
