First weekend of public drinking in selected Ottawa parks

As Ottawa deals with another warm, humid weekend, residents are taking advantage of a rule change allowing alcohol in eight city parks. CTV’s Natalie Van Rooy r

It’s a beautiful weekend in the nation’s capital with many outside enjoying the sunshine and blue skies. It’s also a chance to crack a cold one legally in eight city parks under a new pilot project.

It’s week one for the changes with new rules going into effect on July 1. At Minto Park downtown, Robby Felteau is enjoying an alcoholic beverage with friends.

“I think that most people in general are pretty cool, they don’t mind having a few drinks and are not being a disturbance,” he said. “As long as it’s not a disturbance, I don’t see a problem with it.”

The locations that allow public drinking include Minto Park, McNabb Park, Queenswood Ridge Park, Lansdowne Park, Riverain Park, Strathcona Park, Brewer Park and Champlain Park.

“We were doing this anyways, but it’s great to know that it’s finally officially being seen as not a not a huge problem to society,” said Azad Kais, who was at Minto Park on Saturday.

Abby Gardiner at Lansdowne Park agreed.

“I think that it’s not too big of a deal for me, but I know it could be influential to some kids if people are drinking like really early on and if they get really rowdy,” she said. “Otherwise, I don’t really have too many thoughts about it.”

There are rules in place for the pilot project. You can’t consume alcohol within five metres of playgrounds, splash pads, beaches, rinks, playing fields, skate parks, tennis courts or parking lots. You can only drink in the listed parks from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Not everyone is on board with the move. At Brewer Park in Old Ottawa South, there’s concerns about public drinking affecting the family atmosphere.

“This particular park serves such a young population,” said Lila Zitouni, who was at Brewer Park on Saturday.

 “It’s really related to the children who access this park and possibly in the evening. We have youth, some teenagers and young adults, and they’re a bit concerned about what will the park will look like in the morning after.”

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