ONTARIO ─ A beer garden or other types of alcohol consumption might be seen in Ontario’s parks when there is a special event.
On Wednesday night Ontario City Council approved an amendment regarding regulations of the use of all city parks. It will allow alcohol sales and consumption at special events.
Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson said the event’s organizer will need to apply for a temporary permit at the Ohio Liquor Control Division and receive permission from the city to offer alcohol.
The alcohol sale and consumption must be done in a contained area, the mayor added. People can’t buy a beer, for example, and walk all the way to the park’s soccer field and watch a game. They can’t bring their own alcohol to the park, either.
The amendment was passed after a 5-1 vote with at-large councilman Ken Earhart absent. At-large councilman Larry Collins objected to the amendment.
In the public commentary before the vote, Collins read his letter to council. It said the Ontario Fourth of July committee is considering requesting approval for a beer garden for the event at Marshall Park, the councilman said.
“Although some people may see nothing wrong with a beer garden in the park, it definitely is a very questionable activity and especially in our park that is for families and a host of children,” he said.
Some people have raised their concerns to him, Collins said. He does not believe allowing alcohol sales in parks would be in the interest of the city.
City council has been in the discussion of promoting events and encouraging more residents and visitors to use the parks. Besides improving the amenities, council also hopes to attract more people to the events by permitting alcohol consumption.
Ontario Youth Sports will host the Concert In The Park at Marshall Park this year. Events starting in June feature various types of music, such as Americana and Rock.
“Certainly, I don’t anticipate us having alcohol at every event,” Kenn Spencer told Richland Source in March when council finished the first reading of the amendment.
The director for OYS said a jazz concert could fit well for alcohol consumption. Some local wineries may be interested in involving an event like that.
The concerts have different audience bases, Spencer said. Having seen the Final Friday concerts in Mansfield, many people have asked OYS if they can bring or drink a beer when listening to the band.
“I understand that people have different viewpoints on it and respect those viewpoints as well,” Spencer said. “We’d like to work with our whole community to make something like this work for everyone.”
The first concert is scheduled for June 10. There are two concerts each month from June to September. More information could be found on OYS’ Facebook page.
