Drinking alcohol might be allowed in five parks this summer – including Garry Point Park and Minoru Park.
City Coun. Kash Heed suggested staff look into a pilot project allowing drinking in some parks this summer, and this was supported by the majority on council in early May.
City staff have come up with suggestions for a pilot project, saying it could be tried at Aberdeen Neighbourhood Park, King George/Cambie Community Park and McLean Neighbourhood Park in addition to Garry Point and Minoru parks.
The province allowed municipalities, starting in June 2021, to decide whether to allow drinking in parks, and many Lower Mainland cities such as Vancouver, New Westminster and North Vancouver, now allow it in some parks.
Richmond city staff suggest alcohol be consumed in designated areas within these parks, for example, the area around Minoru Lakes – recently reopened after a $3 million refurbishment.
“A balance will need to be struck between providing alcohol partakers adequate space with amenities close by and ensuring that other park users are not negatively impacted,” the city staff report notes.
It’s also recommended that there be a 10-metre buffer between designated drinking areas and areas where youth and children normally congegrate such as ball diamonds, playgrounds and spray parks to “minimize the risk of adverse role-modelling.”
The pilot, if approved by city council, would run from July to September and alcohol wouldn't be allowed to be sold in parks.
The pilot project is on the agenda for Monday's general purposes committee meeting.
