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City Parks And Alcohol A Strange Mix

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

Earlier this year the Tampa City Council rejected a restaurant's request to sell beer and wine at Ballast Point Park. Now council members may amend regulations to clarify when alcohol can be sold in all city parks.
Councilman John Dingfelder makes the most sensible proposal: allow the sale of alcohol in downtown urban parks but prohibit it, or severely limit it, in neighborhood parks where it could hurt a family-friendly environment.

It's not unusual for cities to allow private vendors to sell beer, wine and champagne at staged events in urban parks, so long as organizers obtain the proper permits.

But the decision should never be guided by an opportunity for greater revenues. Councilman Tom Scott rightly said it would be "pathetic" for the city to sell booze to raise money.

The current ordinance allows alcohol sales in some park settings. Nonprofit groups can get temporary permits to serve alcohol at Lowry Park Zoo fundraisers, for example. And the city is launching a pilot program that will allow beer and wine sales in two rental facilities run by the parks department.

But in revising the rules, the council should keep children as its foremost concern.

Parks provide opportunities for quality recreation and leisure experiences, and children are the biggest users. The city's policy should respect that primary mission.

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