Port Moody makes booze-in-parks experiment permanent

The experiment is over. Port Moody residents will be able to enjoy a beer at five outdoor locations around the city permanently.

On April 23, council voted unanimously to stop extending the pilot program, which has been ongoing since August, 2022, and keep the outdoor drinks going for good.

“I haven’t encountered a single issue,” said Coun. Callan Morrison. “I think it’s a benefit to not only our little small businesses, but also our local economy.”

The public has largely been in favour of the program, which lapsed at the end of 2023 after first being implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engagement conducted between July and September, 2023, showed that most residents had reported generally positive experiences at the six locations permitted by the city.

No more than 10 percent of the 431 respondents reported generally negative experiences regarding liquor consumption at any of the locations, and 81 percent reported generally positive experiences at Rocky Point Park.

Furthermore, 74 percent were against removing any areas from the program, though respondents were divided on whether any more spaces should be added.

Of the respondents,16 percent were against making the program permanent.

“People seem to generally like this program,” said Coun. Samantha Agtarap. “I think it provides flexibility, especially for people that live in smaller spaces.”

Similar positive results from residents and local businesses have been reported by other Metro Vancouver municipalities, and Fraser Health even commended the city’s decision to extend the pilot program another year in early 2023.

Members of Port Moody’s Parks and Environment Committee members were largely supportive of the program at their March 18, 2024 meeting, although concerns about additional bylaw enforcement, garbage management, and drinking and smoking outside of permitted areas were voiced.

Staff noted one of the primary impacts of the program has been a notable increase in litter, which is consistent with findings in other cities.

From the start of the program in 2022, to its conclusion at the end of 2023, Port Moody Police received 10 calls in relation to liquor consumption at any of the permitted locations in the city.

Bylaw enforcements issued no tickets in 2023, and did not report any increase in alcohol-related issues during the pilot program, according to the staff report.

Staff recommended the program be made permanent, with the exception of the spectator stands at Inlet Field due to a new fieldhouse allowing for inside liquor consumption.

There was some question as to whether the program would continue following council’s recent rejection of a budget request for $36,500 related to additional waste collection.

Staff said further evaluation will be needed, and Port Moody’s Zero Waste Plan is weighing whether more waste and recycling bins are needed in the parks 

Additionally, a staff audit of each location will be performed to determine whether more signage should be installed.

Not everyone on council was thrilled about making the program permanent, however, with waste and rule breakers being the biggest concerns.

Coun. Diana Dilworth said she frequents Pioneer Park, and while she enjoys seeing residents enjoy their beverages responsibly, she’s seen young adults drinking past dusk and leaving messes behind.

She also said that by allowing drinking in so many public parks, some have taken liberties in privately owned parks as well.

“As a resident of Newport Village, there is much more drinking and smoking in the green spaces at Newport than ever before,” Dilworth said. “I want to hope that the few bad eggs that are causing concerns can be outweighed by the benefit of this.”

From a public health perspective, Coun. Haven Lurbiecki said there’s been a lot of pushback against the potential increased consumption of alcohol.

But Lurbiecki said the key issue was the trash, given council’s rejection of more cleanup costs.

“We didn’t support that additional cost. . . . But now we’re back to approving it,” she said. “I’m not confident that our residents should be on the hook.”

Lurbiecki gave “tentative” support, but said the city needs solutions to the garbage problem.

Couns. Dilworth and Amy Lubik both noted the Old Orchard and Pioneer Park had more complaints than other parks, and called for them to be removed from the list of designated drinking spaces.

Council voted 4-3 to keep Old Orchard Park, but unanimously approved cutting Pioneer Park from the program.

Related: The trial is over. The verdict? Drinking in Port Coquitlam parks will continue