Council speaks on possible improvements to food truck park
AZLE — The Azle Farmers Market and FeedLot food truck park is preparing for its second-ever season, scheduled to start Saturday, April 5.
At a Feb. 4 meeting, the Azle City Council discussed possible future improvements and developments for the park. Since closing for the winter, an old building has been demolished making more room for the site’s driveway and greater visibility of the parking lot from Church Street. The building was formerly used as an office space by the First Methodist Church and was acquired by the city along with the FeedLot property. Before its demolition, it was used for training by the police and fire departments.
In this newly opened space, the city has constructed an additional driveway for ingress and egress from the parking lot. One previous observation made by council members and staff was that the parking lot was often underutilized due to its lack of visibility from the street. Many patrons would instead park on the side of Church Street or in the FMC parking lot. Community and marketing specialist Kristen Pegues indicated the city will be adding a sidewalk, allowing people to more easily get to vendors without trekking through mud or dirt. The parking lot itself is likely to be expanded to create a foundation for a hydroponic shipping container freight farm that is scheduled to be added to the FeedLot. Azle Public Services Director Rick White and other city staff have playfully dubbed this upcoming addition, “The Lettuce Shack.”
Pegues also told the council that the city could move the FeedLot’s restroom trailers to the now-empty corner of the property, allowing for additional food truck spaces complete with preexisting water and electricity hookups.
Pegues discussed another possible improvement — the addition of a large shade structure to provide better shelter from sun and rain to diners and shoppers at the FeedLot. An opportunity arose for Pegues to meet with an individual specializing in the construction of these structures after a shade structure at Azle Central Park collapsed due to January snowfall. The total area covered would be about 52 by 88 feet, roughly the size of Shady Grove Park’s largest shaded area. Due to the high cost of this kind of structure, an estimated $80,000 to $100,000, Pegues suggested building the structure in phases, covering half the FeedLot to start with.
“These shades, while they’re very sturdy and durable, they’re also very expensive for that reason,” Pegues said. “So, (the builder) suggested maybe phasing was the way to go.”
Mayor Alan Brundrett suggested using local business to construct a high metal roof instead. Council members noted it would match the style of the stage. City Manager Tom Muir and White said bidding requirements and state laws may complicate this process.
The council suggested also adding a long bench and picnic tables for additional seating. Pegues announced that Community Waste Disposal offered to sponsor the FeedLot in putting up speakers for its musical performances in exchange for on-site audio advertisements. The council has advocated adding speakers since the FeedLot’s inception.
Muir said some of these projects wouldn’t likely be ready by the FeedLot’s spring opening, but would instead be decided on and implemented later in the future.
The new FeedLot driveway exit seen from the parking lot. ZACH FREEMAN | TRI-COUNTY REPORTER
