The City of Ottawa has named the parks selected for its Alcohol in Parks pilot program, which will run from Tuesday, July 1 through Friday, October 31.
Credit: Kateryna Hliznitsova/ Unsplash
The initiative permits personal consumption of alcohol in specified areas of designated municipal parks between the hours of 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
This temporary measure was approved by the City Council on June 11 as a test to evaluate the impact of allowing alcohol use in outdoor public settings. Signs will be posted in participating parks to clearly mark permitted areas.
The participating locations are:
- Minto Park at 102 Lewis Street
- McNabb Park at 180 Percy Street
- Queenswood Ridge Park at 346 Kennedy Lane East
- Lansdowne Park – Great Lawn at 1525 Princess Patricia Way
- Riverain Park at 400 North River Road
- Strathcona Park at 25 Range Road
- Brewer Park at 100 Brewer Way
While alcohol use is permitted in marked areas, specific zones within each park are restricted. Prohibited areas include any space within five metres of playgrounds, splash pads, wading pools, beaches, ice rinks, sports fields, basketball and tennis courts, skate parks, and parking lots.
Signage will be installed in each of the selected parks to identify where consumption is allowed. Residents are encouraged to dispose of empty containers responsibly and are reminded that bottles and cans are eligible for deposit refunds at Beer Store outlets.
Legal drinking age requirements and laws concerning public intoxication remain in effect. Ottawa Public Health has published related information at ottawapublichealth.ca/alcohol.
This temporary program is part of a broader review of municipal alcohol policies. Residents are invited to provide feedback throughout the pilot’s duration by emailing parksfacilitiesbylaw@ottawa.ca.
An updated list of participating parks and designated zones is available on the city’s website at ottawa.ca/alcoholinparks.