Legal to Drink in Fairmount Park?

Discussion in 'New England' started by ClarkHimself, May 17, 2013.

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  1. ClarkHimself

    ClarkHimself Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Pennsylvania

    A friend recently mentioned that he read it is legal to consume alcohol in Fairmount Park. I was skeptical, so I decided to look into it a bit myself.

    To my surprise, I did find specific mention of Fairmount Park within the official code of Philadelphia (www.phila.gov/philacode/). It states (from ยง 10-604 - Alcoholic Beverages):

    (2) Prohibited Conduct.
    (a) No person shall bring onto any city-owned recreation center, playground or park area, with the exception of Fairmount Park, proper, or drink thereupon an alcoholic beverage unless such person has written permission for that purpose from the person in charge of the City facility.

    What do you all make of this? The next point then prohibits public consumption of alcohol, but I thought it was interesting that FP was written (seemingly) as an exception. Also, given how big the FP system is, I'm curious as to what area "proper" is referring to?

    I just thought this was an interesting tidbit that could have some implications for outdoor consumption of craft beer during the current BBQ season. Cheers!
     
    #1 ClarkHimself, May 17, 2013
  2. stickboy1125

    stickboy1125 Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2012 Virginia

    why don't you just contact the city and ask them??
     
    #2 stickboy1125, May 17, 2013
  3. TomFoley

    TomFoley Pundit (945) Mar 19, 2005 Pennsylvania

    You would have to find someone who cares, not real familiar with Philadelphia are you?
     
    #3 TomFoley, May 17, 2013
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  4. TomFoley

    TomFoley Pundit (945) Mar 19, 2005 Pennsylvania

    I do remember a reggae festival in FP about thirty years ago where beer was available. There was a heavy police presence because of a shooting at the previous festival, but they didn't hassle anyone with beer. Same deal for a free Santana concert I saw there in 91.
     
    #4 TomFoley, May 17, 2013
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  5. PhillyTapFinder

    PhillyTapFinder Initiate (0) May 21, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I know that the picnic site request specifically says that alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
     
    #5 PhillyTapFinder, May 18, 2013
  6. Phillyz

    Phillyz Initiate (0) May 20, 2010 Pennsylvania

    You can essentially do anything you want in Fairmount park. No one is going to give you any trouble for enjoying a beer or 5. I remember in high school we used to have HUGE keg parties where 100s of people showed up, and the cops just laughed and left.
     
    #6 Phillyz, May 18, 2013
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  7. dagimp

    dagimp Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2008 Pennsylvania

    Go to Belmont Plateau on a sunny Saturday and then tell me you can't drink...
     
    #7 dagimp, May 18, 2013
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  8. Phillyz

    Phillyz Initiate (0) May 20, 2010 Pennsylvania

    In the fine words of Will Smith: "A place called the plateau is where everybody goes, Guys out hunting and girls doing likewise
    Honking at the honey in front of you with the light eyes."

    This is one of my go to drinking spots.
     
    #8 Phillyz, May 18, 2013
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  9. PhillyTapFinder

    PhillyTapFinder Initiate (0) May 21, 2012 Pennsylvania

    He asked if it was legal, not if you can drink. Very different. :slight_smile:
     
    #9 PhillyTapFinder, May 19, 2013
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  10. merc7186

    merc7186 Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2010 New York

    I actually got stopped by a cop 4 years ago after finishing up a round of disc golf and all he asked if we had any narcotics on us. We had beers left in our bags, showed them to him, and he didnt seem to care. Something tells me that he was looking for something a little more illegal.....LOL, like disc golfer smoke weed or something. Laughable.
     
    #10 merc7186, May 19, 2013
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  11. TEKNISHE

    TEKNISHE Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Pennsylvania

    Exactly. The smoke a ton of shit too. Matter of fact, I'll be playing kickball and having drinks there this weekend.
     
    #11 TEKNISHE, May 21, 2013
  12. ThoreauLikeAGirl

    ThoreauLikeAGirl Initiate (0) Mar 11, 2011 Pennsylvania

    I live about a minute from the Belmont plateau and still haven't been there yet. Have a feeling my next tasting should be there. Ha.
     
    #12 ThoreauLikeAGirl, May 21, 2013
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  13. lookrider

    lookrider Savant (1,208) Apr 22, 2007 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    We used to go to the Core States Cycling Classic every June and set up our base of operations in Fairmount Park. We had coolers full of beer and food and got boisterous playing football, whiffle ball and frisbee. Nobody ever bothered us and I never even wondered if it was legal or not. There was always a significant police presence there too.
     
    #13 lookrider, May 21, 2013
  14. DaGrizz

    DaGrizz Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2012 New Jersey

    The bike race is a different animal. It's pretty much an open container type of day throughout the city. That and Mummers Day are the two big open container days I can think of.
     
    #14 DaGrizz, May 21, 2013
  15. ClarkHimself

    ClarkHimself Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Pennsylvania

    As PTF said, I was curious as to the legality of it... not the actual implementation. But hell, I always have coolers of beer with me while camping in PA state parks and that, while not permitted, is never an issue.

    I guess the initial post was more of a "Wow, that's kind of a weird exception to make!" Still wondering about this "Fairmount Proper," business though. It would be pretty fantastic to take a stroll to Rittenhouse Square from Food & Friends and enjoy the people watching with a cold brew in hand. A guy can dream, right?
     
    #15 ClarkHimself, May 21, 2013
  16. ThoreauLikeAGirl

    ThoreauLikeAGirl Initiate (0) Mar 11, 2011 Pennsylvania

    I have drank in Rittenhouse Park numerous times before. You just have to be not so open about it. Don't drink straight from the bottle, and use a cup/glass. They just prefer you to be discreet about it.
     
    #16 ThoreauLikeAGirl, May 21, 2013
  17. phillybeerfreak

    phillybeerfreak Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2011 Pennsylvania

    Alcohol is actuall allowed in East and West Fairmount Park

    Straight From City Of Philadelphia Rules and Regs

    Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all areas of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation facilities and grounds except East and West Fairmount Park

    We are looking to have a beer share cookout the same day as the Hill farmstead farmhouse fest as no one around here was able to get tickets this year. Anyone interested in coming inbox me
     
    #17 phillybeerfreak, Jun 18, 2013
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  18. ClarkHimself

    ClarkHimself Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Pennsylvania

    Thanks for this, as it is exactly what I was looking for. Link to the R&R site that has this info: http://www.phila.gov/ParksandRecreation/aboutus/Pages/RulesandRegulations.aspx .

    Also, for those interested, East Fairmount is deemed to be the Lemon Hill area, while West Fairmount is the Zoo and Centennial Hall area.
     
    #18 ClarkHimself, Jun 18, 2013
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