June first appears to be date for Phila. outdooor feeding ban

A ban on handing out meals in Philadelphia parks could be in place before the start of summer.  

The mayor’s spokesman Mark McDonald says even though the ban on park feeding isn’t in place yet, several groups are going to use an area set up outside City Hall with hand washing stations and porta potties.

“This coming weekend we expect two groups to be there,” said McDonald.  “In all three group have indicated they would like to serve and a fourth group has also indicated that but they have not completed the health department food hygiene permitting process.”

McDonald says the ban will not be in place for the opening of the new Barnes Foundation gallery on the Parkway May 18th.

“It looks like that it’s going to be around June one when it goes into force so before then there is no regulation about serving food on the Parkway,” McDonald said.

Some groups that feed the hungry outside are vowing to defy the ban once in place.