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To mark the occasion, we’ve selected eight parks from the list that bring something special to the table. We’ll drink to that!

1. Best place to celebrate this long-awaited program

, 790 Queen St. W.

What’s so special: This hipster haven, which effectively serves as the backyard for so many people who live in the apartments nearby, is also the perfect meet-up spot before you head out for a night on the town on Queen West, King West or Ossington Avenue.

Amenities: Benches line the bike paths, and 14 picnic tables sit just west of the tennis court in the centre of the park. The lawns by the main gates on Queen West are the prime spots for lounging.

Suggested drink: Pop some bubbly, like the classic Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne, to toast the park.

Where to buy beverages: The nearest LCBO is on Queen Street just east of Bathurst, but on Ossington is considered one the best craft breweries in town.

Food options: There’s a world of choice on Queen West and Ossington, but immediate eats across the street include smashed burgers at , fish and chips from and baked goods from .

Nearest TTC stop: There’s a streetcar/bus stop by the main gates and a stop on the north end serviced by the Dundas streetcar.

2. Best place for the unprepared picnicker

, 875 Dufferin St.

What’s so special: One of the westernmost parks taking part in the pilot program, Dufferin Grove is ideal for the last-minute picnicker, or someone who just doesn’t want to lug an ice-filled cooler of drinks and perishable food in the summer heat. That’s because it’s located across the street from Dufferin Mall, home to two supermarkets (No Frills and Wal-Mart Supercentre), a food court and an LCBO.

Amenities: There are washrooms, pizza ovens, an old-school wooden children’s playground, a splash pad, pollinator gardens, mature trees and a smattering of picnic tables. Set up your picnic in the park’s interior to avoid traffic noise from Dufferin Street. Every Thursday in the late afternoon the sets up shop.

Suggested drink: Toronto-based sommelier Beverley Crandon recommends the picnic-appropriate available at the LCBO, which comes in 250mL aluminum screw-top bottles (so no need for cups or corkscrews). “In addition to a beautifully crafted bottle, the wines in the LOLA line are incredibly easy drinking and general crowd pleasers,” she says. “Great floral aromas, with bright citrus and stone fruits on the palate.”

Where to buy beverages: , which has a line of light summery beers, including the newish , is just a 10-minute walk from the park (or a one-minute walk from the Dufferin subway station).

Food options: If you want to avoid the mall, pick up nachos, tacos and cold drinks at Azteca Restaurant (on Bloor West) and La Tortilleria (on Dufferin), both just a six-minute walk north.

Nearest TTC stop: Dufferin subway station. The 29 Dufferin bus also stops in front of the park.

3. Best place for a tailgate party

, 255 Bremner Blvd.

What’s so special: In the middle of one of Toronto’s busiest zones, surrounded by the Metro pc28����Convention Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium, Rogers Centre, the Rec Room, Steamwhistle Museum and Scotiabank Arena, sits Roundhouse Park. The is another big draw; its fully restored and operational locomotive turntable gives the park its name. Jays fans, concertgoers and trainspotters, this is your place to tipple.

Amenities: Plenty of benches and a long stretch of green space for picnics.

Suggested drink: For a baseball-themed drink to honour the Jays, try Left Field Brewery’s , available at the nearby LCBO.

Where to buy beverages: is at the park, and the Union Station LCBO is a 10-minute walk.

Food options: Bremner Boulevard has plenty of takeout spots, Union Station’s food court offers fried chicken at , jerk options at and more, and vendors sell hot dogs outside Rogers Centre.

Nearest TTC stop: Union Station.

4. Best place to watch the sunset

, 550 Broadview Ave.

What’s so special: It’s the perfect date spot. You can sit on the massive slope on the park’s eastern edge and enjoy a spectacular view of the downtown skyline as the sun goes down.

Amenities: A few benches line the top of the hill along Broadview, and picnic tables are scattered throughout the park, but you’ll want to hang out on the slope – also a favourite for tobogganing in winter. There are small public bathrooms at the bottom of the hill that are a bit of trek from the prime seating area. Across the Don River by footbridge is Riverdale Park West and Riverdale Farm, which are not part of the pilot program, so finish your drinking before you head over.

Suggested drink: It’s a perfect place to enjoy a Radler – a low-alcohol beer mixed with fruit juice, like Stiegl Grapefruit – with your significant other.

Where to buy beverages: The closest LCBO is a 10-minute walk on the Danforth, and the Beer Store on Parliament Street is 14 minutes away. The nearest craft breweries – Eastbound Brewing and Brickworks Ciderhouse – are at Queen and Broadview, a 20-minute walk. Good Cheese, at 614 Gerrard St. E., has a small but impressive selection of wines and beers.

Food options: East Chinatown along Gerrard Street East features plenty of takeout spots. Grab a banh mi from .

Nearest TTC stop: Broadview station is a 10-minute walk. The Gerrard streetcar stops a few blocks south of the park.

5. Best place for a quick drop-in

, 110 Wellesley St. W.

What’s so special: If you want to take a nature break while exploring the downtown core (and don’t mind a short detour to pick up food and drink), Queen’s Park is the perfect respite. Centrally located, it’s also ideal for staycationers who also have on their itinerary the Royal Ontario Museum, a free guided tour of the Legislative Building, shopping excursions in Yorkville or a stroll through the old University of pc28����grounds. The north side, between Wellesley Street West and Bloor Street West, is where you’ll find the better picnic areas and shaded lawns.

Amenities: Though Queen’s Park scores points for location – wide, paved walkways (excellent for cyclists, runners and skateboarders) and lots of large trees giving shade to bookworms and napping picnickers – there isn’t much to encourage an extended stay: no pools, playgrounds nor washrooms.

Suggested drink: Available at both nearby LCBOs locations is the , a Greek rosé that sommelier Crandon says is a relatively affordable wine option with layered notes. “On the nose, red berries, pear, white flowers and some minerality is present,” she says, “and on the palate, the red berries continue but throw some white asparagus in there to mix things up.”

Where to buy beverages: The closest LCBOs are inside College Park to the south and the Manulife Centre to the north. However, this is the park on the pilot list that is closest to Bar Volo, beloved by beer enthusiasts across the city. A 10-minute walk east of the park is where you’ll find the bar’s bottle shop, which includes a signature pilsner, barley wine and Kolsch; paninis, antipasti and pizzas are available for takeout.

Food options: Pickings are slim in the immediate area. You can head north to Bloor Street West (Eataly is a 15-minute walk) or east to the Yonge Street strip to pick up gimbap or fried chicken from the Galleria and H Mart Korean grocers.

Nearest TTC stop: Museum subway station to the north and Queen’s Park to the south.

6. Best place for all amenities

, 750 Bloor St. W.

What’s so special: It can be pretty peaceful. The sunken nature of the nearly nine-hectare Christie Pits helps hide the sound and sight of cars zipping along Bloor.

Amenities: To paraphrase Stefon from “Saturday Night Live,” Christie Pits Park has everything: basketball court, skate park, giant jungle gym at the playground, an adjacent splash pad, baseball diamonds, the Alex Duff Memorial Pool and covered picnic areas.

Suggested drink: A crisp white wine that pairs well with food is ideal, since you’ll probably be at this park for a while. Crandon recommends the : “It’s ripe lemon/lime, peach and nectarine dominant palate makes it a winner for park snacks. Moreover, its acidity makes it a no-brainer for that bag of chips.”

Where to buy beverages: The closest LCBO is on the west side of the park, on Bloor near Ossington. Other options on Bloor are Paradise Grapevine, which offers locally made wine in bottles and cans, and Praise, with a good selection of reds, whites, rosés and bubbles.

Food options: Takeout spots pepper the park’s south side, along Bloor Street West, since it’s between Dovercourt Village and the Annex (for picnic staples, Fiesta Farms is just north of the park). A few steps west of the park, you’ll find Ba Noi bakery, which makes Chinese buns, such as barbecue pork and curry beef, as well as sourdough loafs, galettes and mini focaccias that are still big enough for two. On the eastern border, Baskin-Robbins serves all your cool treat needs.

Nearest TTC stop: Christie subway station.

7. Best place for a block party

, 33 St. Lawrence St.

What’s so special: Forget green space, Underpass Park is a concrete oasis – the largest park built under an overpass in Canada and the first in Toronto. Brightened by graffiti-inspired public art along the pillars, the park has two sides split by St. Lawrence Street. The west features a kid’s park and an open square that hosts a farmer’s market on Thursdays. On the east is a covered skate park and basketball court. One big advantage this space has over the others on this list: since it’s covered, your plans will never get rained out.

Amenities: In lieu of benches, there are concrete slabs that serve as seating. A block away lies another park that’s allowing drinks: Corktown Commons, the bucolic green counterpart to Underpass Parks gritty splendour.

Suggested drink: Considering the spot is a favourite of skaters, how about a vodka and Red Bull?

Where to buy beverages: The closest LCBO is about 20 minutes away on Queen Street East, but there’s a Beer Store on River Street just past Queen.

Food options: As the park is sandwiched between Queen Street East and the Distillery District, there are plenty of takeout spots, including the Middle Eastern and Thai .

Nearest TTC stop: Lower River Street on the King Street bus.

8. Best place to also find unique eats

, 5555 Steeles Ave. E.

What’s so special: Most of the pilot parks are in downtown Toronto, but Scarborough has one of the largest, the 32-hectare Milliken Park. And when it comes to cuisine, the surrounding area offers endless possibilities.

Amenities: Ideal for cyclists and joggers, the park features long, winding, relatively flat paved paths as well as unpaved, woodsier trails for junior explorers. Expect lots of open fields for picnics on well-maintained lawns. Don’t expect many mature trees for shade, though there are covered picnic areas.

Suggested drink: Crandon recommends a versatile Pinot Noir, in particular the : “Red berries, fennel and a long finish, coupled with moderate tannins and structured acidity. This wine does not need to be chilled, but don’t freak out if your friend places it in their cooler bag, as Pinot Noir also works with a bit of a chill.”

Where to buy beverages: You can walk to the LCBO on Steeles Avenue East in about 20 minutes.

Food options: Head to the park’s eastern edge, where across Middlefield Road is a large plaza featuring some of the GTA’s most exceptional eats. Inside the building housing Field Fresh, a Chinese supermarket selling snacks and drinks, is a food court containing Happy Congee, a Hong Kong-style breakfast stall that makes dough fritters from scratch. Also in the plaza: Summilicious, the lauded halal Montreal smoked meat spot.

Nearest TTC stop: The 53 Steeles bus drops you at the main entrance on McCowan Road.

Correction — Aug. 2, 2023: This story has been updated. A previous version incorrectly stated that the nearest LCBO in Trinity Bellwoods is on Queen Street just west of Bathurst. In fact, it’s east.

Karon Liu is a Toronto-based food reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: karonliu@thestar.ca