beer toronto parks

Toronto takes steps to legalize drinking in parks

This is not a joke. I promise.

City councillors will be voting this Friday on whether or not to consider putting beer gardens in some Toronto parks.

Beaches-East York councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, who chairs the Parks and Environment committee, is recommending that city staff review a popular craft beer program in Philadelphia to see if something similar could be rolled out here.

Called "Parks on Tap," the City of Philadelphia's initiative has seen mobile craft beer and food trucks travelling to different parks throughout the city, all summer, since 2016.

"This program brings people together of all ages and activates the city's parks, including smaller neighbourhood parks and public spaces," wrote McMahon in her proposal last week, noting that "a portion of the proceeds from each location is reinvested into Philadelphia's park system."

If her motion is passed on Friday, executives from the Municipal Licensing and Standards, Economic Development and Health departments will study Philadelphia's initiative and report on the feasibility of mobile craft beer trucks in Toronto by January of 2018.

"I think it's an exciting opportunity," McMahon told Metro this week of her recommendation. "People are drinking in parks anyway."

True story.

Lead photo by

Hector Vasquez


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Canadians can get gift card in Ticketmaster class action and here's who is eligible

Here's what the new Bank of Canada interest rate cut means

2025 declared 'the year of digging' for $27 billion Ontario Line

Here's why one guy kept making Avatar references at Toronto City Hall meeting

Locals impatient about Toronto venue under repair for ages with no end in sight

Lawsuit filed after deaths of Toronto mother and son on trip to Dominican Republic

Controversial Toronto project will make traffic even worse than initially thought

Ontario Child benefit can get parents almost $1,700 per kid every year