Can You Drink at Amarillo City Parks? Here’s What the Rules Say

It's summer. I mean, come on, it really is. So we may find ourselves spending more time out at our beautiful city parks. It's a great place to take the kids for an afternoon of fun.

I know I have been spending a lot of time in the past year at several city parks in Amarillo. We recently took the granddaughter to Memorial Park so she could enjoy the splash pad. Oh, and did she.

We would also bring her little tricycle. Spending the afternoon in the sunshine and getting our steps in. That is a lot of fun. Our city parks are great. I asked my daughter if she knew if alcohol was allowed at the city parks.

Setting the Scene: Summer in Amarillo Parks

We saw a lot of families having family celebrations that afternoon. I didn't see anyone with a beer. I do remember back in the day when we played in a softball league, where maybe we would have a cooler with us. I think, though, we had to hide it. This was several years ago. Or maybe we just thought we had to hide it. I don't know.

So this really was a question I didn't know the answer to at all. I feel like I should know this, but I don't. I could see that it would probably not be wanted in the parks. There are a ton of kids around. So that does make sense.

It also seems like the parks wouldn't want the trash either. The parents, though. I could see them wanting a cold, refreshing drink on a hot day. So I do see both sides. It's just something I didn't know the answer to, so I needed to find out.

I reached out to the experts. The folks at Amarillo Parks and Recreation. I need to know if people can have a beer, and I just didn't know it. Or maybe everyone at the park that day just didn't want one. Sure, that was it.

What You Can and Can’t Bring

I talked with David Henry, Media Relations Manager for the City of Amarillo, and he let me know that yes, you can have alcohol at a park, but there are ordinances that would prohibit this.

Parks & Rec Says: Ordinance 12‑7‑4 Explained

So here are the ordinances you need to make sure you know:

Sec. 12-7-4. - Behavior.

No person in a park shall:

(10) Glass containers. Possess, bring in, or use any glass container in any area of a park or athletic area.

(11) Alcohol and tobacco. Consume or use any alcoholic beverage or tobacco product during a game, event, or tournament involving an organized youth sports league or team.

So as long as you have a beer in a can, or wine in a box, you are going to be ok. Just make sure you are not watching any youth sports games. Which makes sense. Those umpires, refs or your kids don't need that.

If you want to go to the park and enjoy a cold one while enjoying a family celebration or while you are watching your kiddos at the splash pad, you can. Oh, isn't Amarillo great?