7.1.A PRSR 03-10-2010Item: 7. I .A
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Steve Benoit, Recreation Manager
DATE: March 3, 2010
SUBJECT: Tobacco Free Park Policy
A representative from the Association for Non-Smokers, Brittany McFadden, will be
making a presentation at the March 10th Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
Ms. McFadden works with the Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation & Live Smoke Free
initiatives. She will be presenting a general overview of these initiatives and how other
agencies have addressed tobacco use issues in park settings.
Also available for review by the commission is examples of tobacco free parks polices
that have been adopted by neighboring communities. Staff is requesting feedback from
the commission on these policies and how they could be incorporated into a policy for the
Elk Rive Park system.
C I T
NDOVER
ANDOVER
PARKS AND RECREATION
SUBJECT
Andover Parks and Recreation Tobacco-Free Policy
POLICY STATEMENT
The city of Andover is committed to the quality of life for all residents, therefore, we believe that:
1. Tobacco product use in proximity of children, youth and adults engaging in or watching
recreational activities is unhealthy and detrimental to the health of others.
2. Tobacco products once consumed in public spaces are often discarded on the ground, thus
posing a risk of ingestion to toddlers and causing a litter problem.
3. As parents, leaders and coaches, and officials we are thought of as role models, and the use of
tobacco products around youth has a negative effect on their lifestyle choices.
TOBACCO-FREE FACILITIES
The City of Andover does not allow the use of tobacco products on City-owned parkland, park
facilities, open space or joint city/school district properties except within the confines of a vehicle in a
designated parking area.
COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
The emphasis on enforcing the Tobacco-free park policy is through voluntary compliance:
1. Appropriate City-owned parkland, park facilities, open space or joint City/school district
properties will be signed.
2. City of Andover staff will meet with activity organizations and/or leaders or coaches to discuss
the policy and to distribute flyers with the "Tobacco-free" regulations.
3. City of Andover staff will make periodic observations of activity sites to monitor compliance
and help to promote awareness of the tobacco-free policy.
Policy Adoption Date: 9/21/04
Km~ CITY OF ANOKA
TOBACCO-FREE PARKS POLICY
~ Policy Number 2004-03 ~ Adopted July 6, 2004
I. Introduction.
The City of Anoka is committed to the quality of life for all residents; therefore, we believe that:
1. Tobacco product use in the proximity of children, youth, and adults engaging in or watching recreational
activities is unhealthy and detrimental to the health of others.
2. Tobacco products, once consumed in public spaces, are often discarded on the ground; thus, posing a risk
of ingestion by toddlers and causing a litter problem.
3. As parents, leaders, and officials, we are thought of as role models; and the use of tobacco products
around youth has a negative effect on their lifestyle choices.
II. Tobacco Free Facilities.
The City of Anoka does not allow the use of tobacco products on City-owned parkland, park facilities,
playgrounds, athletic fields, or City/School District property where signs are posted.
III. Compliance Procedures.
1. The emphasis on enforcing the Tobacco-Free Park Policy is through voluntary compliance.
2. Appropriate City-owned parkland, park facilities, or joint City/School District properties will be
signed.
3. Athletic associations that utilize City-owned facilities will be asked to comply.
4. Staff will make periodic observations of recreational facilities to monitor for compliance.
- City of
Champlin
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1. Guideline Statement
Park & Recreation
Tobacco-Free
Park System Policy
City of Champlin Parks and Recreation Tobacco-Free Policy is designed to protect the
health, welfare, and safety of our park patrons.
2. Policy Statement
The City of Champlin is committed to the quality of life for all residents, therefore, we
believe that:
• Tobacco product use in the proximity of children, youth and adults engaging in or
watching recreational activities is unhealthy and detrimental to the health of others.
• Tobacco products consumed in public spaces are often discarded on the ground, thus
posing a risk of ingestion to toddlers and causing a litter problem.
• As parents, leaders, coaches, and officials, we are thought of as role models and the
use of tobacco products around youth has a negative effect on their lifestyle choices.
3. Tobacco-Free Facilities
The City of Champlin does not allow the use of tobacco products on City-owned park
land, recreational facilities, City facilities, and open space.
4. Compliance Procedures
The emphasis on enforcing the Tobacco-Free parks and recreation policy is through
voluntary compliance:
• Appropriate City-owned park land, recreational facilities, open space will be signed.
• City of Champlin staff will meet with activity organizations and \ or leaders or
coaches to discuss the policy and to distribute flyers with the "Tobacco Free"
regulations.
• City staff will make periodic observations of activity sites to monitor compliance.
5. Adoption date: May 10, 2004
R.~~MSEY
Ramsey Park and Recreation
SUBJECT
City of Ramsey Parks and Recreation Tobacco-Free Policy
POLICY STATEMENT
The City of Ramsey is committed to the quality of life for all residents, therefore, we believe that:
1. Tobacco product use in the proximity of children, youth and adults engaging in or watching
recreational activities is unhealthy and detrimental to the health of others.
2. Tobacco products once consumed in public spaces are often discarded on the ground, thus posing
a risk of ingestion to toddlers and causing a litter problem.
3. As parents, leaders, coaches and officials we are thought of as role models, and the use of tobacco
products around youth has a negative effect on their lifestyle choices.
TOBACCO FREE FACILITIES
The City of Ramsey does not allow the use of tobacco products on city-owned parkland, park facilities,
open space or joint city/ school district properties except within the confines of a vehicle in a designated
parking area.
COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
The emphasis on enforcing the Tobacco-Free park policy is through voluntary compliance:
1. Appropriate city-owned parkland and park facilities will be signed.
2. City of Ramsey staff will meet with activity organizations and / or leaders or coaches to discuss
the policy and to distribute flyers with the "Tobacco-Free" regulations.
3. City of Ramsey staff will make periodic observations of activity sites to monitor compliance.
4. Any person found violating this policy will be asked to leave the facility for the remainder of the
event.
Policy Adoption Date: May 25, 2004
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City-Owned Outdoor Recreational Facilities
Model Tobacco-Free Policy
Section 1: Rationale
WHEREAS, the City believes that tobacco use in the proximity of children and adults engaging
in or watching outdoor recreational activities at City-owned or operated facilities is detrimental to
their health and can be offensive to those using such facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City has a unique opportunity to create and sustain an environment that
supports anon-tobacco norm through atobacco-free policy, rule enforcement, and adult-peer
role modeling on City-owned outdoor recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, the City believes parents, leaders, and officials involved in recreation are role
models for youth and can have a positive effect on the lifestyle choices they make; and
WHEREAS, the tobacco industry advertises at and sponsors recreational events to foster a
connection between tobacco use and recreation; and
WHEREAS, cigarettes, once consumed in public spaces, are often discarded on the ground
requiring additional maintenance expenses, diminish the beauty of the City's recreational
facilities, and pose a risk to toddlers due to ingestion; and
WHEREAS, the City Park 8~ Recreation Board determines that the prohibition of tobacco use at
the City's recreational facilities serves to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of
our City.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that tobacco use is prohibited in outdoor recreational facilities. No
person shall use any form of tobacco at or on any City-owned or operated outdoor recreational
facilities, including the restrooms, spectator and concession areas. These facilities include
[insert specific facilities here, e.g. playgrounds, athletic fields, beaches, aquatic areas, parks,
and walking/hiking trails].
Section 2: Enforcement
1. Appropriate signs shall be posted in the above specified areas.
2. The community, especially facility users and staff, will be notified about this policy.
3. Staff will make periodic observations of recreational facilities to monitor for compliance.
4. Any person found violating this policy may be subject to immediate ejection from the
recreation facility for the remainder of the event.
Section 3: Effective Date
This policy statement is effective immediately upon the date of adoption,
which is , 20
Appropriate City Official
Date
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation
Tobacco-Free
Park & Recreational Areas
for Minnesota Communities
Program of the Association for Nonsmokers—MN
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Funded on a grant from the MN Dept. of Health
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Tobacco-Free Communities program
Current goal: increase the # of tobacco-free
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outdoor recreation areas
Twin Cities Metro Cities with
Free Park Policies
Free Park Policies
Minnesota Cities with
March 2010
March 2010
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Tobacco
Tobacco
Why are Minnesota communities
Elk River’s Neighbors have
adopting tobacco-free park policies?
Tobacco-Free Parks!
Tobacco-free environments protect the health, safety, and
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welfare of the community.
AndoverAnoka County
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parks
The purpose of public park areas is to promote community
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Anoka
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wellness, and tobacco-free policies fit with this idea.
Champlin
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Three Rivers Park
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Most school districts prohibit tobacco use on their entire
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District parks
grounds, including athletic fields, and having a policy for city
Dayton
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parks would provide consistency.
Ham Lake
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Policies for city-owned park and recreation areas support local
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Ramsey
groups (soccer clubs, etc.) who use those areas and want to
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promote healthy lifestyles.
St. Francis
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Cigarette butts cause litter, cost money to clean up, and can
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be swallowed by toddlers.
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Healthy Role Models = Secondhand Smoke is
Healthy Role Models = Secondhand Smoke is
Healthy CommunitiesDangerous
Healthy CommunitiesDangerous
If an animal can mimic our behavior, There is no risk-free exposure to secondhand smoke.
what are our children learning?--U.S. Surgeon General, 2006.
Secondhand Smoke
Cigarette Litter is Harmful
Cigarette Litter is Harmful
Exposure Outdoors
The risk of secondhand smoke exposure outdoors
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appears to be related to both dosage and proximity to
the source
Repace, J. (2005). “Measurements of Outdoor Air Pollution from
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Secondhand Smoke on the UMBC Campus.”www.repace.com
KlepeisNE, OttWR, Switzer P. (May 2007). “Real-Time Measurements of
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Outdoor Tobacco Smoke Particles.”Journal of Air & Waste Management
Association. Vol. 57.
CA Air Resources Board has identified SHS as a toxic air contaminant
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# of smokers
Risk
Proximity to
Cigarette butts cause litter, cost money to clean up,
If you can smell SHS, you
and can be swallowed by toddlers and animals.
smoker
are being exposed
Minnesota Recreation & Park
Minnesotans Support
Association Supports Tobacco Policies
Tobacco-Free Park Policies
Minnesota Recreation & Park Association
Statement on Tobacco Use in Public Parks,
70% of Minnesota adults support tobacco-free
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Facilities, and Open Spaces
park and recreation areas
Dedicated to healthy lifestyles
•
66% of golfers support these policies
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Recognizes harms of secondhand smoke and tobacco
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73% of families with children support these
use to all people
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policies
Supports programs that enhance recreational
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experiences and promote healthy lifestyles by
reducing or eliminating tobacco use in parks,
recreational facilities, and open spaces.
Source: Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study, University of Minnesota, 2004
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Park Directors Report
Athletic Organizations that
Positive Results
Support Tobacco-Free Policies
Minnesota park directors’observations
The National Alliance for Youth Sports and the National
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Youth Sports Safety Foundation state that parents must
after implementing policies:
demand a tobacco, drug and alcohol-free environment.
88% reported no change in park usage
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The National Youth Sports Coaches Association Code of
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(no loss of park users)
Ethics states that each coach should provide a sports
environment that is free of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.
71% reported less smoking in parks
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Little League
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58% reported cleaner park areas
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The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association prohibits the
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use of tobacco during sanctioned events and activities
What does a typical tobacco-
How are these policies enforced?
free policy park look like?
Similar to other park policies, such as alcohol and litter
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policies, primary enforcement is with signs.
Policies prohibit tobacco use on any city-
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Most communities do not ask their police to actively
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owned park property or park & recreation
patrol the parks. Instead, they rely on peer
area.
enforcement among park users.
Policies cover all people using the parks
Community awareness through policy manuals,
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newsletters, and local media.
(players, coaches, spectators, other park
Reminders at coaches’or parents’meetings, or signed
users).
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statements from teams, participants, coaches, and
Policies describe how park users will be
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parents.
notified ().
mailings, policy guidebooks, etc.
Each department’s requirements vary –but some
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departments ask violators to leave the park area for the
Policies outline how enforcement will occur.
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remainder of the event.
Contact Information
Brittany McFadden, Program Director
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Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation
St. Paul, MN
(651) 646-3005
bhm@ansrmn.org
www.tobaccofreeparks.org
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