Drinking in certain city parks will be allowed for the first time across Toronto this summer after councillors greenlit an expansion of their alcohol-in-parks program.
On Thursday, Toronto city council voted to make permanent a pilot program that allowed people over the age of 19 to drink in certain parks.
The move came after a city staff report assessing the results of the 2023 pilot, which allowed drinks like wine and beer in 27 city parks, found the project was met with high satisfaction.
The report said a majority of survey respondents reported feeling safe at parks where drinking was briefly allowed, there was no increase in hospital emergency department visits due to alcohol, there was no spike in calls to police and those who chose to drink at a park were considerate of those around them.
At the end of March, a council committee took the next step toward …