Image via of Flickr

In an attempt to rain on everybody’s summer lounging, beer sippin’ parade, a group of neighbourhood residents have come forward to push a ‘no tolerance’ policy on drinking in Trinity Bellwoods. This challenges just about everyone who’s been to the park, thrown down a blanket, made no real attempt to hide their can of PBR and passed their empties to that little lady with the umbrella who walks around to collect them for coin. It may mark the end to a beloved and harmless Bellwoods park culture. That being said, if the security gets strict, it’s cool. There are other parks in Toronto. Just like traffic spills over to other streets when you close a road, park drinkers are bound to find their way to other outdoor watering holes in an inevitable Molson Dry-aspora. Here’s a list of our other favourite grassy hills that might be a little warmer to your cool six-pack:

 

High Park: (Bloor St West) 
Of course, High Park. It’s enormous and tree-ridden, so you can find a secluded spot if that’s what you’re into. Also has open spaces if you want other groups to hear that acoustic cover you just mastered. Picnic tables and proximity to tasty snacks on Bloor West are a plus, and so is the good-looking view of Grenadier pond.

 

Ramsden Park: (Yonge and Belmont)

Grassy in the summer, crazy rink in the winter. Wash down your beverage with one of the city’s greatest sandwiches from Black Camel and get there before they run out of buns. Just across from Rosedale Station for quick and easy access.

 

Ward’s Island: (Toronto Islands)
This might be number one. Hop on the ferry and float over to the Toronto’s most mellow land, away from the crowds at Centre Island. The waterfront view of the CN Tower makes for a pretty and patriotic spot for the picnic baskets. Ferries leave at 5:30, 6:15, 7, and 7:45pm from the docks.

 

Evergreen Brickworks: (Don River Valley)

Hiking trails, ravines, and other nooks to hang out in. There’s wildlife left and right and stuff to do if you don’t just want to sit around, like the Farmer’s Market and Bike shop. The ravines are Toronto’s finest, so just pick up your bottles, don’t be that guy.

 

St. James Park: (King and Jarvis)

Yes, you have to head East and away from your regular Bellwoods hills, and yes, this one’s little fancier. But you can play that up and sip your drink out of a teacup. St. James is is one of the most underrated small parks in the downtown core, with frequent live music to soundtrack your afternoon. A streetcar drops you right off in the park. It’s also within a block of two LCBOs and a wine rack, so that’s a perk. 

 

Okay, so what we’re really saying is that instead of the perfectly harmless “Hamsterdam” set-up that Trinity Bellwoods has offered, it seems that official attempts to crack down on park drinking will likely drive people to find another place to imbibe, potentially creating more problems than a crackdown would solve. Maybe, just maybe, if so many people are interested in having a beer in the park, there’s a way we can accomodate neighbours’ concerns without a complete prohibition.

 

But no matter where you drink, be aware: the casual outdoor drinking crackdown seems to be going city-wide. The city has released a statement saying that all Sport and Social Club (SSC) locations will be enforcing a zero tolerance alcohol policy at all their facilities. This includes fields, diamonds and parking lots before, during and after games. Police will be patrolling and issuing fines up to $200. More info can be found here.

 

To get involved with the debate over the fate of Trinity Bellwoods park, head to the open meeting tomorrow at 6pm at Trinity Bellwoods Community Centre Assembly hall. Should be interesting, with the comment section on Metro news already roaring with criticism of the “hipsters sprawled over the park sipping overrated, overly-hoppy microbrews and wearing toms with no socks.” Toms with socks would be a little more classy, thank you very much.