City snuffs out smoking in parks

You can no longer smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products in Lake Oswego parks.

The city council Tuesday approved a resolution banning the use of tobacco in city parks and open spaces, joining at least 17 other Oregon communities with tobacco- or smoke-free policies in public parks.

No one testified in support or opposition of the proposal, and the council had no questions or discussion before approving the new policy, which took effect immediately.

However, at a March 20 study session, council members discussed a recommendation from the Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommending the ban.

“I think it’s very important that the reason any jurisdiction does tobacco-free parks is to protect the park and open space resource from the damaging effects of tobacco use,” such as fire, litter and human waste, parks Assistant Director Ivan Anderholm told the council then.

The 17 Oregon communities with tobacco- or smoke-free parks as of 2010 include two entire counties – Wasco and Crook – and account for 230 park sites totaling about 50,000 acres of land, according to the city. In 2011, the city of Vancouver, Wash., outlawed tobacco in its parks and open spaces, Anderholm added.

A ban at city parks is also consistent with the Lake Oswego School District’s tobacco-free policy; many city parks are adjacent to school facilities or shared by sports leagues, he said.

Rather than installing temporary signage to post the new rules, Anderholm said new signs will be incorporated in a comprehensive parks re-signing effort that’s already in the works.

“We’d like to roll it out with a public education campaign and new signage,” he said March 20. He noted cities with similar policies have found “overwhelming compliance from their citizens.”

“It becomes a self-policing policy,” Anderholm said.