Parkgoers will be legally allowed to drink alcohol in select Ottawa parks this summer

Alcohol could be allowed in some Ottawa parks this summer

Parkgoers will be able to enjoy beer, wine or spirits in select City of Ottawa parks again this summer, as the city extends a pilot project allowing alcohol consumption in municipal parks.

Last summer, the city allowed alcohol consumption in the designated areas of eight parks, with ward councillors allowed to select parks. The designated parks were the Great Lawn at Lansdowne Park, Minto Park, McNabb Park, Queenswood Ridge Park, Riverain Park, Strathcona Park, Brewer Park and Champlain Park.

In a memo for the Community Services Committee, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services general manager Dan Chenier said the pilot project “did not result in increased operational, enforcement, or public safety concerns.”

“Consistent with experiences in other Canadian municipalities, the pilot demonstrated on a limited scale that responsible alcohol consumption in parks can support social interaction and community use without compromising safety or operational integrity,” Chenier said.

Chenier says staff will extend the pilot project for the summer of 2026 to “further evaluate impacts and inform a final recommendation to council.

Staff will identify candidate parks for alcohol consumption and work with councillors to identify potential concerns with parks. Councillors will have the final say on whether parks in their wards will allow alcohol consumption.

Parks eligible for alcohol consumption will be analyzed based on several factors - parks with basic amenities including seating and picnic areas, not near schools and daycares and parks with “historically low levels of service requests or enforcement concerns,” Chenier said.

Complaints in parks

Bylaw Services only received one call for enforcement related to alcohol consumption in the eight parks designated for alcohol consumption last year.

Chenier’s report said there was one alcohol-related call at Brewer Park.

Bylaw Services officers responded to 31 alcohol-related calls in 2025 at parks where alcohol was not permitted.

According to the report, police received six alcohol related calls for issues at the eight parks where alcohol was permitted last year. Police received 75 calls for service at parks where alcohol consumption was not permitted.

The city did report they received 37 calls for noise, disruptive behaviour and garbage at the eight parks where alcohol consumption was permitted last summer, but staff said the calls were not related to alcohol consumption.

Rules for alcohol consumption in parks

The City of Ottawa’s rules for alcohol in parks in 2025 included only alcohol consumption between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Individuals must be 19 years of age or older.

The City of Ottawa says alcohol consumption is not permitted within five-metres of the following areas:

• Playgrounds
• Wading pools and splash pads
• Beaches
• Rinks
• Playing fields and ball diamonds
• Basketball, tennis and pickleball courts
• Skateboard parks
• Parking lots