New Westminster is planning on pointing the way to designated drinking spots in local parks.
At a special meeting on May 10, council gave three readings to a bylaw that will permit the consumption of liquor in public spaces. Once the bylaw is approved, people will be able to drink liquor in specified zones within seven parks – Port Royal Park, Grimston Park, Moody Park, Hume Park, Sapperton Park, Westminster Pier Park and Queen’s Park – from 11 a.m. until dusk, seven days a week.
Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said the bylaw would take effect on May 17, if it’s given final adoption by council at that night’s meeting.
“Concurrent with the assumed adoption of the bylaw will be the placement of permanent signs within each of the designated parks,” Gibson said. “The signs will contain maps that show the delineated areas. There will be a minimum of four signs at each delineated area, and the signs are quite self evident in terms of what those particular zones will actually be.”
Council has been supportive of the bylaw, with only Coun. Chuck Puchmayr opposing the plan.
about the bylaw are found in a May 10 report to city council.
