Food trucks and pushcarts could soon roll into The Boardwalk at Town Center beyond city events.

The Johns Creek City Council backed a 12-month food truck pilot program at its Oct. 5 work session, as Appen Media first reported. Council members plan to take the next formal step at their Oct. 26 meeting.

The pilot would lift a longstanding restriction that limits food vendors at city-owned parks to city-sponsored and city-permitted events. Under the proposal, licensed trucks and pushcarts could set up at the 20-acre Boardwalk behind City Hall on Lakefield Drive, subject to rules on operating hours, designated locations, insurance, permitting and a ban on alcohol sales.

City staff said the goal is to measure how food vendors affect pedestrian traffic and park activity. Community Development Director Ben Song said staff plans to track how many vendors apply, what types of food they offer, customer demand and vendor success. He said staff expects a clearer picture of vendor frequency and types within the first six months.

The timing fits.

City Manager Kimberly Greer said the city's code and police departments are both headquartered at Town Center, giving staff the ability to respond quickly if problems arise. "If it's successful, we absolutely see the opportunity to expand this to other parks," Greer said at the Oct. 5 work session.

Council Member Larry DiBiase agreed. He said the proposal lines up with the original vision set by the Town Center committee. Staff modeled the program after similar efforts in Sugar Hill and Roswell, though the city has not detailed which elements it borrowed.

The Boardwalk, which opened in May, drew roughly 15,000 visitors to the city's America 250 Independence Day celebration and regularly attracts families between events. Medley, the $560 million mixed-use development adjacent to the park, is scheduled to open its first phase by Oct. 29.

When the council approved an $8.58 million land purchase to enhance The Boardwalk in July, Mayor John Bradberry said he expected the area's draw to keep growing. "It's only going to get better," Bradberry said at the time.

Specific permit fees, insurance minimums and exact operating hours have not been released. The proposal comes before the full council Oct. 26.