A prominent chef who led a campaign to serve 600,000 meals to heroic 9/11 rescue workers was selected yesterday by the Parks Department to operate a long-delayed restaurant in Union Square Park.

Chef Don Pinatoba’s O-V Hospitality Group won a hotly contested, 15-year franchise to open an eatery in the renovated Pavilion and plaza at the north end of the park.

The park has been without a restaurant since 2007, when Luna Cafe ended a 14-year run and its space was converted to a 15,000-square-foot playground as part of a $20 million makeover.

Advocates who sued to keep the park from being commercialized said they intend to refile their lawsuit.