WORCESTER—This time around, the city is shaking up its parks concession vendor selection process for 2025 by introducing a lottery system instead of the traditional bidding process. The change, announced by the Department of Public Works & Parks and the Purchasing Division, comes in response to public feedback aimed at making the process more equitable.
“We are proud to offer this lottery system for 2025 Parks Concession Vendors,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista in the announcement. “This process gives more small businesses a fair opportunity to be awarded a location for the 2025 season.”
The lottery determines which vendors secure spots at 28 parks and beaches across the city, with Coal Mine Brook added as a new location for 2025. Vendors can apply for up to four locations, selecting either a food or novelty vending proposal. If a vendor wins a location, they will be removed from consideration for additional locations unless a site has only one applicant.
Another major change for 2025 is that each awarded vendor may now invite one additional vendor of the same type to operate at their designated location. The primary vendor will oversee all aspects of the additional vendor’s compliance and operations and may not charge them more than 50% of their own payments to the city.
The vending season will also be extended, running from early April through December 31, with hours from 8 a.m. to sunset. Facilities with sports field lighting may allow vending as late as 8 p.m. However, vendors will not operate on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, and event organizers will have final say over which vendors are allowed during special events.
Proposals are due by 10 a.m. on March 19, 2025, and must be submitted in person to the Purchasing Division at City Hall. The lottery will be held one week later at 10 a.m. in the Esther Howland Chamber at City Hall, where all vendors are welcome to attend.
