Pilot project would allow alcohol consumption in three Kelowna parks over the summer
Kelowna is coming late to the party. Enjoying a cold beer or a glass of wine in city parks is already a thing in five other B.C. municipalities, including Penticton. Now Kelowna’s city council will consider a staff report recommending a pilot project to alcohol consumption in three Kelowna parks at its Monday meeting.
The report says Waterfront Park, Kinsmen Park and Boyce Gyro Park should be considered as places where “the responsible use of alcohol” can be tested July 4 to October 6.
“Many people who live in multi-unit residential developments do not have access to private outdoor space. This was underlined during the pandemic, which motivated many municipalities to pilot the responsible consumption of alcohol in park spaces,” said city parks planner Melanie Steppuhn in the report. “Public parks are often seen as gathering places for members of our community. By allowing responsible alcohol consumption in designated areas, we are creating an opportunity for people to come together and interact in a safe and enjoyable environment.”
Penticton, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam already allow drinking in parks, she said. Penticton’s three years of pilots went smoothly for police and bylaws staff, although there was more trash pick up.
“Penticton has permanently revised its bylaws to allow drinking on the primary beach parks on Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake from 12 noon to 9 p.m.,” Stephun wrote. “Areas of permissible consumption are clearly delineated on the beaches through posted signage and on their website. RCMP and Bylaw Services in Penticton report a “negligible impact.” Staff affirmed this with Penticton RCMP and Bylaw. A noted impact to the city was to their works department (i.e. heightened volumes of waste in these designated areas).
The report recommends that alcohol at Waterfront, Kinsmen and Boyce Gyro be allowed between noon and 9 p.m., with some excluded areas such as within 15 meters of playgrounds or children’s play areas, sports fields and courts, parking lots, water bodies, and any piers or boardwalks without railings.
Those three parks are named for the pilot project because of good sightlines that allow natural surveillance from other users and effective access from city bylaws staff and RCMP, she said, and they have washrooms, trash cans and picnic areas. They’re also accessible to transit and close to where people live.
“Parks that are easily accessible by transit or active transportation networks, reducing the potential for driving under the influence” and “Parks that are close to areas of mid to high residential density provide opportunities for residents to socialize out of doors, many of whom do not have access to private outdoor space,” she said.
“Parks to specifically avoid for the pilot project, due to either high calls for service, and/or playgrounds or play spaces, include City Park, Kerry Park, Stuart Park,” she said in the report.
Kelowna city councillor Mohini Singh said she’s willing to consider the pilot project but needs to hear more at Monday’s meeting.
“As it stands right now, I’m willing to entertain the discussion on how this will impact people who our parks and beaches, and see if it’s positive or negative. How I’ll vote, I don’t know yet. We’ll see where the discussion takes us,” Singh said.