Smoke-Free Parks
Parks serve as community centers where people of all ages gather to enjoy the outdoors, recreational activities and clean air.
Communities around the nation have implemented a variety of policies in order to provide clean air for everyone in their public parks. While some communities have passed laws that make entire parks smoke-free, others have 25 foot "safe zones" around playgrounds and toddler sandboxes, so that kids can play without being directly exposed to secondhand smoke.
In parks, however, the dangers of passive smoking aren’t always confined to secondhand smoke. Cigarette butts present their own health hazard. Not only do they not decompose (they are made from cellulose acetate, which is a plastic) but they are highly toxic and dangerous to children and animals when eaten. The toxic residue in butts not only litters the environment, but can also seep into underground water systems and poison the soil.
Around Washington state, the following communities have implemented smoke-free policies in their parks:
- City of Anacortes (Montgomery-Duban Headlands Park and Sharpe Park)
- City of Battleground
- City of Ellensburg
- City of Lake Stevens
- City of Marysville
- Mason County (parks and fairgrounds)
- City of Moses Lake
- City of Mount Vernon (Bakerview Park and Clear Lake Beach)
- City of Olympia (only near areas with children)
- City of Poulsbo (five parks)
- City of Ridgefield
- City of Tumwater
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Last Updated: 06/17/08
This Web site contains information on the revised Clean Indoor Air Act (RCW 70.160). It is not legal advice. This information cannot be considered as a substitute for legal advice from and representation by a qualified attorney.
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