If council gives the green light, there will be eight waterfront parks in Kelowna where you’ll be able to legally drink alcohol this summer.
City staff have finally submitted a report on the successful pilot program in 2023, and made suggestions for 2024, which will go in front of council on Monday.
After open liquor was permitted at just three parks last summer, the proposal calls for eight popular summer gathering spots to be included moving forward.
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The recommendation is for the following eight parks to allow open liquor every summer:
If approved by council, alcohol consumption would be allowed in these eight parks between noon and 9 pm, from May 15 through Sept. 15 annually.
There would be similar regulations in place to prevent open liquor in certain areas at these parks, including sports courts, fields, parking lots, bodies of water and piers.
Alcohol consumption would also be prohibited within 15 metres from playgrounds, or any play equipment or children’s play areas, and residences.
Glass would also not be permitted once again, meaning people would have to find alternatives for wine and beer bottles if they want to legally have an adult beverage in these parks.
City staff said the three-month pilot in 2023, which ran from early July until early October, was met with very few complaints and even resulted in fewer calls for service to the RCMP.
There was a minimal drop at Waterfront Park, down from 138 calls in 2022 to 112 calls in 2023, but the drop in calls was over 50% for both Kinsmen Park and Boyce-Gyro Beach Park.
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