More people using Steve Cox Memorial Park-Mel Olson Stadium has created a demand for food and drinks to keep baseball fans happy so they return often.

The demand has spurred King County Parks to seek a local business to provide food and refreshment services.

The facility was recently renovated and dedicated to Deputy Sheriff Steve Cox, who was killed in the line of duty in 2006.

"It's a great opportunity to get a lot more people in the park and is a great place to watch baseball on a summer evening," said Jessie Israel, business development manager of King County Parks. "Reservations for the field have gone through the roof ever since the renovation."

The King County Parks will choose a local business to take over the 30 by 16 foot concession stand located next to the northern section of the grandstand. The space includes two roll-up windows facing the ball field and is accessible from both inside and outside of the gated stadium area. Israel sees this as a great economic development opportunity for the community.

"The business chosen will not only serve as a concessionaire but the parks sees this as a great opportunity to have an onsite presence at the park at all time, making it more inviting to more community members and creating more community involvement at the field," said Israel.

For the next two weeks, King County Parks will be taking request proposals from local businesses interested in calling the stadium home and ready to serve the White Center Community.

Applicants should know that scheduled activity would generally be Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with special events extending these hours.

Also preference will be given to applicants available to begin operation as soon as mid-August 2008. Proposals must be submitted by July 11 and can be hand-delivered or sent by mail to John Villapudua, Program Manager Re: SCMP Concession Stand King County Parks and Recreation Division 201 S. Jackson St., Ste. 700 Seattle, WA 98104 or by email at John.Villapudua@KingCounty.gov.

For more information on King County Parks or the Parks Business Plan and 2008 Request for Ideas and Proposals visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/parks.

Allison Espiritu may be reached at 932-0300 or allisone@robinsonnews.com.