Get up, get out and enjoy even more of Edmonton’s beautiful city parks! How, you ask? Now Edmontonians can legally drink alcohol at 18 designated city parks.
This is the second year of a pilot program that City Council passed in May 2021 in response to a survey asking Edmontonians if they would be in favour of the move. The online survey was open from February to March 2021, during which time it received 15,554 responses. Of those responses, 71 per cent indicated that they would support allowing public alcohol consumption in designated outdoor areas.
The pilot project runs this year from May 1, 2022 to October 10, 2022, and includes picnic sites throughout the city, including Rundle Park, Gold Bar Park, Victoria Park, Government House Park, William Hawrelak Park, Sir Wilfred Laurier Park and Whitemud Park. There are a total of 124 picnic sites spread out across the 18 parks where Edmontonians are now allowed to consume alcohol, each marked with signage and rules that must be followed. Nineteen sites are available for pre-booking through the City of Edmonton website, while the rest will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Public alcohol consumption is still prohibited in most jurisdictions across Canada. This pilot project moves Edmonton in line with cities like Montreal and Europe’s major metropolitan centres, and for its supporters, it’s a positive step away from Prohibition era liquor laws that have persisted until now. It has also been touted by some as a way to encourage more adults to get outside and use city parks throughout the summer.
(Editor’s note August 7, 2024: See City of Edmonton website for the full list of alcohol-permitting parks)
