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20 parks to participate in alcohol drinking pilot program in August

Statue of King Edward the VII in Queen's Park with people in front of it
Parks will also be required to comply with the Liquor Licence and Control Act. While drinking in public parks will be allowed in the 20 parks, public intoxication still remains illegal. Photo by Owen Thompson.
Owen Thompson - CJRU - Toronto • ON | 04-07-2023
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An alcohol consumption pilot program set to launch in parks across Toronto this summer.

This Thursday, 20 parks from 12 wards will be considered for the program at a Toronto Economic and Community Development Committee meeting. The information will then be presented at the July 19-21 city council meeting.

If approved, the program is expected start Aug. 2 and will run until Oct. 9. Like other pilot programs, this three month period is to collect data and find any problems before implementing it city wide.

Parks will be required to comply with the Liquor Licence and Control Act. While drinking in public parks will be allowed in the 20 parks, public intoxication still remains illegal. This program will allow people of legal drinking age to have and consume alcohol and not receive a fine. The city says that no tickets were issued for drinking in parks last year.

At a committee meeting on June 28, 12 councilors opted into the future program with parks that had amenities the city council had as requirements to be in the program. Scarborough North Coun. Jamaal Myers is one of the 12 who have opted into the program and says that some of the criteria includes access to washrooms, water fountains, not being attached to schools and not being close to water or cliffs.

Myers says that he opted his ward into the program because it is a fair and equitable policy that allows people to safely consume alcohol. He says that one of the hopes of the program is to remove the stigma of public drinking.

“My own observation in the park was there already is a lot of public drinking in a very safe and responsible way happening in the park.  I wanted to remove the stigma and let people know that, 'yes, it is okay to drink in the park.' This is something that’s quite common in the rest of the world,” says Myers. “I think this was a positive step forward. I think most people will enjoy having the option to enjoy a beer or a glass of wine.”

The following parks have been proposed for the pilot program:

  • Eglinton Park, Ward 8 - Eglinton-Lawrence
  • Earlscourt, Ward 9 - Davenport
  • Dufferin Grove Park, Ward 9 - Davenport
  • Campbell Avenue Playground and Park, Ward 9 - Davenport
  • Dovercourt Park, Ward 9 - Davenport
  • Roundhouse Park, Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York
  • Trinity Bellwoods Park, Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York
  • Christie Pits Park, Ward 11 - University-Rosedale
  • Queen's Park (110 Wellesley St W), Ward 11 - University-Rosedale
  • Sir Winston Churchill Park, Ward 12 - Toronto-St. Paul's
  • Corktown Common, Ward 13 - Toronto Centre
  • Greenwood Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth
  • Riverdale Park East, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth
  • Withrow Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth
  • Monarch Park, Ward 14 - Toronto-Danforth
  • Skymark Park, Ward 17 - Don Valley North
  • Lee Lifeson Art Park, Ward 18 - Willowdale
  • East Toronto Athletic Field, Ward 19 - Beaches-East York
  • Milliken Park, Ward 23 - Scarborough North
  • Neilson Park – Scarborough, Ward 25 - Scarborough-Rouge Park

Listen below for an interview with Coun. Myers:

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