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Toronto one step closer to permanently allowing drinking in some parks

Toronto city staff are recommending that drinking alcohol be permanently allowed in 27 parks across the city that took part in a pilot project last year. 

The recommendation will be made to the city’s economic and community development committee on Thursday, according to the committees’ agenda.

Staff will also recommend that the consumption of alcohol be allowed in at least one park in each ward. 

The pilot program allowing alcohol in some parks took place from Aug. 2 to Oct. 9. According to a staff report accompanying the recommendation, 92 per cent of people who visited one of the pilot parks and filled out an experience survey said they were satisfied with their visit. 

Staff have also recommended criteria that parks should meet in order to be added to the program should meet, including having local councillor approval, being at least 1.5 hectares in size, having a washroom, having seasonal drinking water and not being on the waterfront. 

Drinking should not be allowed at outdoor swimming pools, within two metres of playgrounds, wading pools, splash pads, skateboard parks, BMX parks, and artificial and natural ice rinks, the report said.

Here are the parks where you could drink permanently:

  • Campbell Avenue Playground and Park.
  • Cedarvale Park.
  • Christie Pits Park.
  • Corktown Common.
  • Dovercourt Park.
  • Dufferin Grove Park.
  • Earlscourt Park.
  • East Toronto Athletic Field.
  • Eglinton Park.
  • Greenwood Park.
  • Hillcrest Park.
  • June Rowlands Park.
  • Lee Lifeson Art Park.
  • McCleary Park.
  • Milliken Park.
  • Monarch Park.
  • Morningside Park.
  • Neilson Park — Scarborough.
  • Oriole Park.
  • Queen’s Park.
  • Riverdale Park East.
  • Roundhouse Park.
  • Skymark Park.
  • Sir Winston Churchill Park.
  • Trinity Bellwoods Park.
  • Underpass Park.
  • Withrow Park.

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