Alcohol will now be allowed year-round at some North Vancouver parks

Public alcohol consumption at certain parks and public spaces across North Vancouver will now be allowed year-round.

Earlier this week, City of North Vancouver council agreed to turn the pilot project into a permanent feature. The program first launched in late June and allowed alcohol consumption at eight different areas from 11 am to 9 pm, seven days a week.

Designated alcohol-allowed zones in North Vancouver. (CNV)

When the program was discussed by the City of North Vancouver’s mayor and city councillors, most agreed that it was a huge success.

“I think overwhelmingly, this was an incredibly successful program,” Mayor Linda Buchanan said during Monday evening’s meeting. “I heard over and over and over again from people that they really appreciated the opportunity to use our public spaces in this way.”

Councillor Back also said that she’d “had nothing but positive feedback on the use of our public spaces and parks.”

Buchanan said that “people, for the most part, have behaved incredibly well.”

It was agreed upon that Civic Plaza be removed from the program.

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An area of improvement would include adding additional garbage and recycling receptacles as well as permanent washrooms at certain locations.

Another change, recommended by city staff, includes shifting the bylaw hours from 11 am to 9 pm to 12 pm to dusk.

Buchanan noted that outside of Quebec, North Vancouver is the first municipality to do this across Canada.

“If we treat adults like adults, they’ll rise to the occasion,” she said. “For the majority of the time, they have, and this has been an excellent pilot. I’m happy to support it being permanent moving forward.”