by Dennis Dalman
Starting in spring of 2022, the concessions stand in Pinecone Central Park will be operated by “Mr. Twisty,” an ice-cream shop whose permanent location has been in northwest St. Cloud for years.
The shop’s management signed a 10-year lease with the City of Sartell to operate that concessions stand seven days each week, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., as well as during special events at the large park. The stand will be open from early May until the end of September.
The city council approved the least agreement at its Sept. 13 meeting.
Mr. Twisty will serve its many flavors of ice cream in cones or cups and also hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, chicken strips and more.
When Pinecone Central Park opened seven years ago, it was intended Mr. Twisty would operate the concessions stand, but the shop’s owner at that time retired before the stand opened. Thus, the stand was operated by ProFields, which also does maintenance at the park and its sporting fields.
Recently, the city contacted Mr. Twisty management about perhaps operating the stand. The city plans to assume operations and maintenance at both Pinecone Central Park and St. Cloud Orthopedics baseball field (formerly Sartell’s Champion Field). Those plans are part of the city’s new parks department, the first in its history.
