Success Story - Parks Progress
June 2004
Contact Person
Barbe West or Cheryl Pfaff
Funded Community
Community Choices
Description
The Clark County Board of commissioners has instructed Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation staff to explore the development of a plan for instituting a no-smoking initiative in Clark County parks. (The city and county have a combined department, however each maintains jurisdiction over parks in their area.) Parks and Recreation staff met with staff from the Clark County Health Department Tobacco Program and Community Choices staff. An initial recommendation was made to create voluntary smoke-free zones where children congregate, in picnic areas, and adjacent to playing fields and bleachers.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission has since unanimously voted to support tobacco free parks and will likely pursue an ordinance banning smoking in parks.
This is early in the process and many legal and political issues may need to be addressed, but we are encouraged and consider it a success that elected officials recognize and support smoke-free outdoor environments and that a citizen advisory group has joined the effort to reduce exposure to second hand smoke.
We will keep you informed of progress and the outcome of this exciting opportunity.
