From: Bostonherald.com

Rent increases and the loss of key longtime locations could be in store for pushcart vendors on Boston Common, Copley Square and in parks across the city.

The Parks and Recreation Department regained full control of the vendor program in April and, to comply with the state’s procurement law, may have to put vendor locations out to bid for next year.

“That way, everybody has a fair shot, and it’s not the same people getting the better spots,” parks spokesman Ryan Woods said.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston previously ran the vendor program and, as a nonprofit, was not required to follow the state procurement law. After costs, it received 60 percent of the profit from vendors’ monthly rent payments, and Parks and Recreation got 40 percent. Now, all of the proceeds — the latest figure was $163,000 — will go to the department.

Vendors’ rents and locations already are locked in for this year, however. The vending season runs April through October, with 71 spots available. On average 40 to 45 are filled, according to Woods.

“We took it over after everybody was assigned, so this season everybody has a spot until October,” Woods said. “The only difference this year is that the person overseeing it isn’t a Boys & Girls Clubs staff person, it’s a staff person from the city Parks and Recreation Department.”

A meeting with vendors is set for next week. Vendor Craig Caplan, who has a T-shirt cart on Boston Common, is worried about vendor locations being awarded to the highest bidders. Depending on locations, rents currently range from about $500 per month to upward of $1,500 per month, he said.

“We’re all very worried,” Caplan said. “It’s taken a long time to build up these businesses so they’re profitable. If they are putting it out to bid and they’re not working with the current vendors and they’re not working to preserve our currents locations, then there’s going to be a legal battle.”

But, Caplan said, “There’s always mutually beneficial solutions to problems like this. I guarantee that Mayor (Martin J.) Walsh doesn’t want to see small business owners lose their livelihood. There’s many, many ways to generate revenue from the public parks. There’s lot of underutilized space.”

A spokeswoman for Walsh said he is glad that the vending activities are now within the purview of the Parks and Recreation Department.

“With the recent movement of this contract to the Parks and Recreation Department, the city of Boston is subject to state procurement laws,” Walsh spokeswoman Gabrielle Farrell said. “The Parks and Recreation Department will work closely with existing vendors and newcomers throughout this process. Funding from this will ultimately be directed towards positive programming for Boston residents, families and visitors to enjoy all that our parks have to offer.”

The additional vendor revenue will allow Parks and Recreation to expand parks programming. Additional lacrosse programs, the reintroduction of fishing at parks, rugby and improvements to the Boston neighborhood Basketball League are under consideration, according to Woods.