South Fulton council tables proposal to allow alcohol at council-or-mayor park events amid safety, liability concerns

City Council members on Tuesday tabled a walk‑on proposal to allow alcohol at certain mayoral or council events in city parks after multihour discussion about safety, liability and enforcement.

The discussion began as Tannar Turner, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, told the council, “It's a safe space for kids to go to.” Turner said the department has worked to make recreation centers “a safe, nurturing environment” and that allowing alcohol in parks would threaten that work.

“The number one liability to me again is the kids,” Turner said. “The kids saying that, oh, you know, they were drinking in the recreation center.” She said the city’s recreation programs include after‑school and summer camps where children are present, and that staff oppose introducing alcohol into those spaces.

Chief Keith Meadows of the South Fulton Police Department urged caution. “It’s kinda counterintuitive when we talk to [young people] about drugs and alcohol, and then we see our park rangers engaging…