Forest Preserves of Cook County Unveils Expanded Vendor Opportunities for 2025
Forest Preserves of Cook County Unveils Expanded Vendor Opportunities for 2025
Permit applications open to allow local vendors to enhance visitors’ experience in our open spaces
The Forest Preserves of Cook County is offering businesses the opportunity to sell goods and services, from food to fitness classes, at playfields and other locations. With around 62 million annual visits and counting, the Forest Preserves seeks to enhance visitors’ convenience and enjoyment while supporting its mission to protect and preserve the county’s open spaces.
“Concessionaires can purchase a permit to sell food from a truck or a small cart, offer bike fixing services or they can sell unique items such as bug spray or fans to our patrons in the Forest Preserves,” says Business Development Manager Lenora Dailey.
Solopreneurs, fitness instructors, food trucks and other businesses are all welcome to apply. “New in 2025, the Forest Preserves are looking for food truck or cart concessionaires to sell items at Camp Bullfrog Lake. We’re also excited to provide more opportunities to small culinary and business owners interested in the variety of contract opportunities including multi-year contracts, which are available as part of the new concessions program,” Dailey says.
Concession Opportunities
Concessionaires can sell food, beverages, goods and services from traditional stationary concession stands, push carts and food trucks. A permit is required, and concessionaires must complete a new permit annually. Cost is $250 for a daily permit,
$500 for an annual permit, plus a $25 application fee. Key elements of the application include:
Business license and proof of insurance
Location(s) where you plan to sell
Schedule of when you plan to be on site
Items you plan to sell, with prices
For food sales: health, food handler, food truck and all other relevant permits and licenses
Permits will be good through December 31, 2025
Vending will not be allowed on trails, but vendors can use trails to get from one picnic grove to another inside a single Forest Preserve location
More details and a downloadable application form are available on the Concessions Opportunities page of the Forest Preserves website, fpdcc.com/concessions- opportunities/.
Learning More
Those interested in learning more about the new opportunities can get all the details on the Forest Preserves’ Concessions page at fpdcc.com/concessions-opportunities/. For questions or more information please reach out to lenora.dailey@cookcountyil.gov or 312-771-2703.
Don’t you sometimes just want to escape? Explore the natural beauty of Cook County for an hour, a day or even a night. When you’re surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful there’s no better place to feel free.
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