No complaints about alcohol consumption in 8 Ottawa parks with legal drinking so far this summer

Alcohol consumption is allowed in eight Ottawa parks this summer.

There have been no complaints about Ottawa residents enjoying alcoholic beverages in eight municipal parks where legal alcohol consumption is permitted so far this summer.

As of July 1, alcohol consumption is permitted in eight municipal parks between the hours of 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. as part of a pilot project approved by council. The eight parks are: Brewer Park, Champlain Park, the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, McNabb Park, Minto Park, Queenswood Ridge Park, Riverain Park and Strathcona Park.

Bylaw Services officials told CTV News Ottawa that since the launch of the pilot project to allow alcohol in parks, it has “not received any complaints related to alcohol use in the designated pilot parks.”

However, Bylaw Services has received 10 complaints involving alcohol consumption in non-designated parks, which resulted in “one verbal warning being issued.”

“Bylaw and Regulatory Services would like to remind the public that alcohol consumption is only permitted in select designated parks as part of the ongoing pilot project,” Jake Gravelle, associate director of Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services, said in a statement.

“Possession or consumption of alcohol in non-designated parks remains prohibited and may result in tickets being issued.”

The ten complaints in July about alcohol use in Ottawa’s parks are up from nine complaints about illegal alcohol consumption in parks in both July 2023 and 2024.

Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services have received 29 complaints so far this year about alcohol consumption in Ottawa’s parks. There were 50 complaints about alcohol consumption in parks in 2024 and 56 complaints in 2023.

Under the alcohol in parks pilot project, councillors worked with the general manager of Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services to identify eligible parks.

Alcohol is not permitted at beaches, and within five metres of playground or playground equipment, wading pools, splash pads, outdoor pools, beaches, parking lots, natural or artificial ice rinks, and at sports fields, sports courts and ball diamonds.

Alcohol consumption is not permitted in federal parks in Ottawa, including Major’s Hill Park, Kiweki Point, on Parliament Hill and along the Rideau Canal.

The City of Ottawa’s alcohol in parks pilot project runs until Oct. 31.