Sterling parks board backs food trucks with rules in place

Sterling’s Parks, Library and Recreation Board moved toward allowing food trucks in city parks, but only if the city writes clear rules and does it correctly. The board’s support marked a practical shift in how Sterling could manage public space, with any policy likely spelling out where vendors may park, who approves them and what limits apply on hours, access and fees.

The discussion came at the board’s 4:30 p.m. meeting Monday, May 5. The current board includes Barb Kloberdanz, Denise Piel, Jim Smith, Kelly Lowery and Linda Williams. City records list term expirations that run from June 2026 through September 2028, showing the group that will help shape the next step if the city moves ahead.

The board sits in the middle of the city’s parks decision-making structure. Sterling says the Parks, Library and Recreation Board advises the director on parks, library and recreation matters and may adopt rules and regulations tied to those facilities and programs. That makes it the logical place to decide whether food trucks belong in places where families, athletes and casual visitors already gather.

That question reaches beyond convenience. Sterling’s Parks, Library and Recreation Department says its mission is to promote community pride and quality of life through education, tourism, health and recreation. At the same time, the city’s Code Enforcement Division says it administers city codes and ordinances in a prompt, fair and impartial way, which suggests any food-truck policy would need a clear enforcement plan, not just permission in principle.

Sterling’s park system already serves walkers, joggers, skaters and bicyclists across sites such as Centennial Square, Pioneer Park, Columbine Park, Wisdom Park and Overland Trail Recreation Area. A food-truck policy could change the feel of those spaces during sports events, summer evenings and community gatherings, while also creating a new opportunity for vendors if the city chooses a process that is predictable and manageable.

The board’s backing was not a final rollout, but it did signal momentum. If Sterling adopts a formal policy, the result could be a visible change in how the city uses its parks, with public access, park atmosphere and fairness to existing businesses all built into the rules from the start.