King County considers smoking ban in parks

King County is considering making public parks smoke free.

The King County Council is considering a proposed ordinance
that would prohibit tobacco use in heavily used parts of the
county’s park system.

“When people come to a public park, they expect to breathe
fresh air – not someone else’s cigarettes,” said King County
Executive Dow Constantine.

“We want our park users to experience a healthy, enjoyable
atmosphere when they do go to the park,” said Kevin Brown,
the Director of King County Parks. “Second-hand smoke does
bother folks and it does impact your health.”

Signs would be put in parks to prohibit tobacco use in areas
like playgrounds and sporting fields.

“Compliance would be voluntary,” said Brown. “It’s much like
littering, or dogs on leashes. We’re asking for sort of peer
to peer compliance.”

King County reports around 600 jurisdictions
nationally have enacted laws that prohibit tobacco use in
parks.