Pilot program for open alcohol in Victoria Park deferred

Those hoping to have a cold one in Victoria Park in Kitchener this summer will have to wait a while longer.

Kitchener Council voted to pass a city staff recommendation that a pilot program for open alcohol be deferred following changes made by the province on where you can buy booze.

Councillors voted back in December to have staff explore the idea of a pilot program between July 1 and October 31 in Victoria Park.

Since then, the province has moved to expand where alcohol can be sold, including in convenience stores, and any impacts of those changes have not yet been seen.

Under new provincial changes, grocery stores would be getting access on August 1 and convenience stores would get access on September 6, which would fall within the pilot program period.

Staff also wants a consultation with regional police to confirm their involvement, support and enforcement of a future pilot program. Police have said they have concerns with capacity, safety, public health and the ability to properly monitor and enforce a pilot program.

A report to council notes Toronto tested an open alcohol pilot program in their parks last summer for two months and found it to be “largely successful” and would be expanding it to other parks in the city.