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Is consuming alcohol allowed in Ottawa parks? No. Ought to it’s? Completely

Or, why the town ought to observe the lead of different municipalities and ease its restrictions towards having a drink in a park

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I dodged a bullet on Wednesday night, after I went to Brewer Park to observe mates play softball.

No, it wasn’t an errant foul ball or different game-related calamity that induced the shut name, nor a falling tree department or something related to the intense climate incidents which have visited the world of late.

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It was my very own behaviour.

On the night in query, I knowingly contravened Metropolis of Ottawa By-law 2004-276, specifically Part 7, half (1)(f), which states that “No individual shall, in a park or facility and with no allow issued by the Normal Supervisor: (amended by By-law No. 2021-176) have of their possession any alcoholic beverage.”

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The drink might have value me $260, which is the quantity of the positive that Ottawa By-law issued to 3 transgressors final yr, and 5 up to now this yr.

I confess that this was not the primary time I’d dedicated such a breach, however I’m hoping it might be the final — though not as a result of I anticipate to cease. I’m hoping as a substitute that the town will observe the lead of different municipalities and ease its restrictions towards having a drink in a park.

Sure, I do know that Ottawa is the town that enjoyable famously forgot, and that it’s positioned within the nation’s most traditionally puritanical province, however does it should be this manner? There was a time, recall, when about the one enjoyable Ottawans had been permitted on a Sunday was a church sermon, so I do know change is feasible.

On the identical day that I used to be toasting a bottom-of-the-seventh walk-off dwelling run, the town of Toronto began a pilot challenge permitting individuals 19 and older to eat alcohol in 27 principally downtown metropolis parks, together with Trinity Bellwoods and Christie Pits.

Learn extra: Alcohol consumption allowed in 27 Toronto parks, for a restricted time

Alcohol can solely be consumed in these parks between 5:30 a.m. and midnight, and never inside two metres of playgrounds, wading swimming pools, splash pads or skateboard parks, or contained in the gates of an out of doors swimming pool or deck. Moreover, individuals should be respectful and never disturb others, and empties should be disposed of in a park recycling bin or taken dwelling.

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The pilot continues till Oct. 9.

Different Canadian cities have adopted related measures in at the least some municipally owned parks, together with Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal.

Among the many arguments in favour is that it creates a extra pleasing ambiance for social gatherings, like picnics, say, in addition to leisure actions. For apartment- or condo-dwellers and others with no patch of grass to name their very own — and that’s just about all the brand new housing being inbuilt Ottawa lately — it permits residents an in any other case unavailable outside area the place they’ll socialize over a glass of wine or a beer.

Detractors, in the meantime, cite such potential issues as extreme noise, vandalism, intoxication and public urination. These are definitely legitimate issues, however by-laws and legal guidelines concerning these nonetheless exist.

Outcomes of a survey of Toronto residents, launched in April, confirmed that 44 per cent had been in favour of permitting alcohol in parks, whereas about one-third expressed “a point of opposition.” Pilot tasks like Toronto’s will point out the behaviour that the coverage change will encourage most: rowdyism or accountable enjoyable.

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It’s an thought price attempting in Ottawa, beginning maybe in such parks as Strathcona, Britannia and Vincent Massey, the place household picnics are already prevalent (Montreal, for instance, permits permitless consuming in parks provided that it accompanies a meal), or on the aptly named Brewer Park, the place there are additionally quite a few leisure services.

Town might assist itself by guaranteeing that parks the place consuming is allowed even have appropriate washroom services, simply as a restaurant or bar should, in addition to potable water for consuming and washing up. In keeping with Facility Operations director Dan Brisebois, washrooms can be found at recreation buildings close to many parks, and in parks the place there are buildings related to outside rinks. There are additionally near 200 transportable bathrooms in metropolis parks.

At Brewer Park, for instance, the place the general public washrooms at one nook of the park are greater than a three-minute stroll from the baseball diamonds on the reverse nook, a conveyable bathroom has been erected by the sports activities fields. It’s removed from an ideal resolution, but it surely works.

In the meantime, should we at all times cite the worst doable consequence of any proposal that loosens laws and permits residents a say in how they get pleasure from public areas? May we not as a substitute contemplate the nice that may outcome from one thing like this, and belief that those that select to embrace the thought will achieve this responsibly?

Have a superb lengthy weekend, Ottawa.

Cheers.

Cheers.
Cheers. Picture by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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Is consuming alcohol allowed in Ottawa parks? No. Ought to it’s? Completely Source link Is consuming alcohol allowed in Ottawa parks? No. Ought to it’s? Completely

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