Tourism New Westminster is serving up snacks to visitors to Westminster Pier Park. The City of New Westminster has yet to begin offering food services at the new waterfront park, but Tourism New Westminster has been helping park-goers beat the heat by providing a place where they can purchase a cold drink or snack.
"We have partnered up with Tourism New Westminster. It's their volunteers who are down there manning the snack station, as well as being ambassadors for the city," said Dean Gibson, the city's director of parks, culture and recreation. "It's been a win-win for everybody."
Tej Kainth, executive director of Tourism New Westminster, said the organization was pleased that the city approached it about providing the service.
"We know people have come into the visitor centre asking for water and other things," she said about the centre located at Fraser River Discovery Centre. "If people are wanting a bottle of water or a Popsicle, we are there."
The temporary concession's offerings include pop, water, apple juice, rice crispy squares, fruit snacks and popsicles. Until Aug. 31, volunteers can be found at the concession stand in Westminster Pier Park Monday to Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., weather permitting.
"We encourage people to come by and say hi," Kainth said. "We have some fun facts about Pier Park that the parks department has put together."
The concession area is located in a building known as Lytton Square, a building that also includes washrooms and a viewing area of the park. Planning is underway to provide a permanent concession at the park.
"The full food service operation down there is not yet operational," Gibson said. "We don't have anyone lined up to provide that service."
Tourism New Westminster won't be operating the drink and snack service permanently, but the city wanted to provide a temporary service for park-goers interested in grabbing a light snack or drink.
