Longueuil is now following Montreal’s lead and formally authorizing the consumption of alcohol in most of its municipal parks, as long as it is accompanied by a full meal and is consumed in moderation.
This was announced on Wednesday by the administration of Mayor Catherine Fournier, deeming the results of last year’s pilot project “conclusive”, without any particular harm having been observed.
It has been permitted since 2023 to consume alcoholic beverages with a meal in Parc de la Cité, Parc St. Mark and Carré Saint-Jean-Baptiste, but the measure had not yet been extended more generally.
“We know that people like to gather in parks for activities such as picnics and friendly and family gatherings. This is why, like many other cities in Quebec, we are formally authorizing this practice, which we already know exists in our territory, in order to better regulate it,” said Mayor Fournier in a press release.
However, it calls on the population “to demonstrate civic-mindedness and decency, to consume responsibly, in the places established by the regulations, and to dispose of waste properly.”
The bylaw adopted Wednesday maintains the ban on alcohol consumption in children’s play areas, including water games, as well as sports areas such as stands, buildings or park chalets. It will also be prohibited for the time being to drink alcohol in the Boisé Du Tremblay.
A priori, barbecues and fires also remain prohibited in Longueuil parks, with no new details having been given on this subject on Wednesday.
On the North Shore, in Laval, a pilot project launched without fanfare last year is also testing alcohol and barbecues in a park. To date, you can have a drink while eating in the picnic areas of Bernard-Landry, Berthiaume-du-Tremblay, Légaré, Champfleury, Jolibourg, Centre de la Nature and Prévost parks. Signage has just been added in these areas. So this is also essentially the same principle as on the Island of Montreal, with a few exceptions.
Laval and Montreal also allow the use of barbecues in parks, but under certain conditions. Among others, only butane and propane devices are authorized.