CONTENTS
Talking Points for Tobacco Free Parks & Public Areas……………………….
Local Examples of Tobacco Free Parks & Public Areas……………………….
Testimonials………………………………………………….………………………………
Sample Policies……………………………………………………………………………….
Policy Enforcement Options……………………………………………………………
Local Champions & Partnership Directory……………………………………….
Marketing and Communication Support………………………………………….
Partnership for a Tobacco Free Cerro Gordo County………………………..
References ……………………………………………………………………………………
Talking Points for Going Tobacco Free!
Environmental Points:
- The cigarette filter – the whit fluffy stuff that looks like cotton – is actually plastic (cellulose acetate) which can take up to 15 years to decompose.*
- Since all school districts already prohibit tobacco use at their outdoor facilities, a tobacco free policy for town owned outdoor facilities creates continuity and eliminates confusion about which facilities are tobacco free. A tobacco free policy also provides support to organizations that already have an existing policy and that use the towns’ facilities.
- Cigarette butts and tobacco-related items make up 38% of all litter, creating costly clean up. With tobacco free policies, clean up costs decrease.
- There are over 176,000,000 pounds of cigarette butts discarded in the U.S. each year. Cigarette butts are the most littered item on U.S. roadways, making up 38% of all littered items collected.
- Cigarette butts are not biodegradable. Sunlight may eventually break down the filters into smaller pieces but they never fully disappear. The chemicals remain in the environment.
- Ingesting one to five cigarettes can cause death in dogs and cats. Discarded butts and materials are washed into drains making their way into rivers and the ocean contaminating the water and killing wildlife. Those that are not washed into the waterways, contaminate the soil.
Health Points:
- Exposure to secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death, killing 400 nonsmokers every year in Connecticut. There is no safe level of exposure.
- The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.*
- Exposer to concentrated amounts of secondhand smoke outdoors can cause respiratory irritation and may trigger asthma attacks.*
- Secondhand smoke levels in outdoor public places can reach levels as high as those found in indoor facilities where smoking is permitted.
- Cigarettes are poisonous when eaten by children, pets, and other animals leading to injury and death. Thousands of calls are made each year to American Poison Control Centers regarding children poisoned by ingesting cigarette butts.
- Improperly discarded cigarettes and other smoking materials start fires. More than 900 people in the United States die each year in fires started by cigarettes, and about 2,500 are injured. Nationally, annual human and property costs of fires caused by careless smoking total about $6 billion.
Community Perception Points:
- Communities throughout the United States are creating tobacco free outdoor facilities out of concern for the health of their citizens. Among Iowa counties, 17 already have tobacco and/or smoke free parks and public place policies.
- Tobacco free policies establish the community norm that tobacco use is not an acceptable behavior for young people or adults.
- In tobacco free environments, parents, coaches and other leaders become tobacco free role models that send a powerful message to youth that tobacco use is not part of a healthy lifestyle.
- For years the tobacco industry has sponsored and advertised at sporting events, concerts and other entertainment, misguiding young people’s perception of tobacco use. Research indicates that sporting events expose youth to extensive tobacco use by people they view as positive role models.
- We go to parks to play with our kids, to participate in sports, or to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Creating tobacco free parks is a way for communities to make outdoor spaces even more conducive to healthy living.*
- By passing a law to create tobacco free parks, a city or county can take an important step to encourage healthy behaviors and make parks places where people can expect to be free from secondhand smoke.*
- Smoke-free environments help adults model healthy behavior for kids, and can encourage people who smoke to smoke less or even quit.*
Enforcement Points:
- Local governments have the legal right to adopt laws to protect residents’ health and safety. This authority enables communities to adopt tobacco free laws to reduce exposure to harmful secondhand tobacco smoke.*
- Cleanup of tobacco litter from sidewalks, streets and recreational areas is costly. A San Francisco litter audit study found the cost for clean-up of tobacco litter to be more than $7 million annually. Taxpayers and local authorities bear the cost of cleaning.
- Laws restricting smoking in parks are, for the most part, self-enforcing, which means that people “police” themselves and cooperate with the law.*
- When people know they aren’t supposed to smoke in a particular place, they generally comply. Knowledgeable community members also can help educate those who don’t know about the law.*
- Posting No Smoking or No Tobacco signs at park entrances, in playground and picnic areas, and next to sports fields are important ways to provide clear and constant reminders about the smoke/tobacco free law.*
- Media events, press releases, newsletter articles, website highlights, and brochures are all great ways to inform and remind the public about the health-promoting policy.*
- While laws creating smoke free parks rely primarily on public cooperation, it is also important that a law include enforcement language, such as fines and other penalties, to show that a violation carries real consequences.*
Tobacco and Smoke Free Public Areas in Iowa
The following counties in Iowa all have communities with smoke free and/or tobacco free parks and public areas.
Source: Iowa Department of Public Health Tobacco-Free Environments listing
LOCALLY:
In Cerro Gordo County, the Mason City Recreation’s Norris Youth Softball Complex enforces a nicotine free policy. No tobacco or nicotine products are allowed on the premise.
Testimonials
“Our department received many positive comments from users with small children and those with lung conditions and allergies. Not allowing smoking in our parks has made them significantly cleaner.”
Perry, Iowa Parks and Recreation Office Associate
“Passing our tobacco free parks policy was very simple, as it complimented the Smoke Free Air Act, which many of our residents thought already covered parks and public places.”
Prairie City, Iowa City Administrator
Need more testimonials!
Commitment of Support Letter
For Tobacco Free Outdoor Recreational Facilities
WE SUPPORT TOBACCO-FREE POLICIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY’S OUTDOOR
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
- Tobacco use in the proximity of children and adults is detrimental to their health.
- Our recreational organizations have a unique opportunity to create and sustain an environment that supports a non-tobacco norm through a tobacco free policy for our community’s outdoor recreational facilities.
- Parents, leaders, and officials are role models for youth and can have a positive effect on the lifestyle choices they make.
- Cigarettes, once consumed in public spaces, are often discarded on the ground requiring additional maintenance expenses, diminishing the beauty of our community’s facilities, and posing a risk to toddlers and wildlife due to ingestion.
- Prohibiting tobacco use at our community’s recreational facilities serves to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of our community.
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Sample Tobacco Free and Smoke Free Policies
for Parks & Public Places
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF "[City Name]"
ADOPTING A TOBACCO FREE POLICY
FOR THE CITY’S PARKS AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Whereas, On DATE the Cerro Gordo County Public Health Department and partners made a presentation to the "[City Name]" City Council requesting that the City of "[City Name]" adopt a Tobacco-Free policy for all City Parks and outdoor recreational facilities, and:
Whereas, Tobacco-Free Park and Recreational policies and ordinances have been adopted by
approximately 29 local governments throughout the State of Iowa, and:
Whereas, The City Council of the City of "[City Name]" hereby finds that the following reasons support the
need for a Tobacco-Free Policy within the City of "[City Name]" s:
a)Tobacco use within the proximity of children and adults engaging in or watching recreational activities can be detrimental to their health.
b)Following use, tobacco products are often discarded on the ground, posing a risk of ingestion to young children and animals, and causing significant litter problems requiring additional maintenance expense.
c)Parents, coaches and other adult leaders serve as role models, and their use of tobacco has a negative effect on the lifestyle choices made by youth.
d)Each School District in Cerro Gordo County has a policy prohibiting tobacco use on all school property and through adoption of a similar tobacco policy by the City of "[City Name]" for all City parks and outdoor recreational facilities; all persons are sent a consistent message that tobacco use is not welcome on these grounds.
e)The prohibition of tobacco use at the city’s Parks and outdoor recreational facilities serves to protect the health, safety and welfare of all the citizens of the City of "[City Name]" .
Now, Therefore be it Resolved by the City Council of the City of "[City Name]" , as follows:
1)Effective DATE, all City owned or operated Parks and Outdoor Recreational facilities are hereby declared as tobacco free and all users shall refrain from using any tobacco product on any of these City owned or operated parks and outdoor recreational facilities.
2)For purposes of this policy only, the [campus] shall be considered a Park, and declared a tobacco free area throughout the grounds of the [campus].
3)Appropriate signs will be posted in designated areas of Parks and Outdoor Recreational facilities, and the [campus], open spaces and trails, indicating that said facilities are Tobacco Free.
4)The community will be notified of this policy through various communication channels.
5)City staff will make periodic observations of parks and outdoor recreational facilities to monitor for compliance of this policy.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of "[City Name]"
This [7th] Day of [May] , [2015]
Ayes:
Nays:
______
"[Mayor's Name]" , Mayor "[City Administrator's Name]" , City Administrator
RESOLUTION # ______
TOBACCO FREE PARKS POLICY – PHASE #1
STRUCTURED YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
WHEREAS, the City of [City] , Iowa, maintains public parks and facilities for the use and enjoyment of its citizens, their families and people who visit our community, and wants those who use our parks to get the maximum enjoyment and benefit from its use;
AND WHEREAS, the use of tobacco products in the presence of, and in proximity to, those utilizing these parks, particularly children, serves to diminish the enjoyment derived from the use of our public parks;
AND WHEREAS, the use of tobacco products in public parks presents various health risks to persons using the parks, including the dangers of secondary smoke and the discarded material which can be handled and ingested by children;
AND WHEREAS, it is the belief that all citizens should be good role models for those children to see adults publicly enjoying the parks without the use of tobacco products;
AND WHEREAS, the Recreation Department has administrative protocols in place at all indoor recreation facilities, and spectator areas in outdoor facilities, which comply with the Iowa Smoke Free Air Act;
AND WHEREAS, park and recreation facilities that are the site of youth activities and events inclusively include the Recreation Department facilities of "[list recreational complexes and parks]" , and the leased areas for "[list leased recreational areas and parks]" ;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF [City] , IOWA, that pursuant to the Iowa Smoke Free Air Act, tobacco use is prohibited on any city-owned, outdoor recreational facilities and parks when structured youth activities and events are in progress.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the local Partnership for a Tobacco Free Cerro Gordo County is hereby authorized to notify and publicize this policy to the community and facility users, and, at their expense, provide and post adequate signage to notify the public of this policy in consultation with, and site location approval by, the Superintendent of Grounds and Facilities.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that any person violating this policy will be instructed either to discontinue the use of tobacco products on the property or to leave said property. If the person fails to discontinue the use of tobacco products or leave the property, then said person’s right to be present on said property will terminate and a trespassing or violation/complaint can be made to law enforcement.
______, MAYOR
ATTEST:
______
CITY CLERK
ADPOTED: ______
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TOBACCO-FREE PARKS AND TRAILS POLICY FOR THE CITY OF "[City Name]" , IOWA
WHEREAS, Section 142D.3 of the Code of Iowa (the Smokefree Air Act) prohibits smoking in public places, including the following out-door areas: (a) the seating areas of outdoor sports arenas and (b) the grounds of any public buildings owned or under the control of a city; and
WHEREAS, Section 142D.4 of the Code of Iowa establishes certain areas where smoking is not regulated, such as outdoor areas that are places of employment, except where smoking is prohibited by Section 142D.3; and
WHEREAS, Section 142D.5 of the Code of Iowa permits anyone having custody or control of an area otherwise exempt from the smoking prohibitions to declare the entire area as a tobacco-free place; and
WHEREAS, the City of "[City Name]" , Iowa, maintains public parks and trails for the use and enjoyment of its citizens, their families and people who visit our community; and
WHEREAS, the use of tobacco products in the presence of and in proximity to those utilizing the parks and trails, particularly the children using the parks and trails, serves to diminish the enjoyment derived from the use of our public parks and trails; and
WHEREAS, the use of tobacco products in public parks and trails presents various health risks to persons using the parks and trails, including the dangers of secondary smoke and the discarded material which can be handled and ingested by children; and
WHEREAS, cigarettes, once consumed in public spaces, are often discarded on the ground requiring additional maintenance expenses, diminish the beauty of the City of "[City Name]" parks and recreational facilities, and pose a risk to toddlers due to ingestions; and
WHEREAS, a tobacco-free parks and trails policy will complement the current city smoke-free policy in City owned buildings and the "[City Name]" Community School District tobacco-free building and grounds policy and will eliminate any confusion; and
WHEREAS, for the purpose of this Policy tobacco is defined as any smoking or spit tobacco product, including any lit or unlit cigarette, cigar, blunt, bidi, clove cigarette, e-cigarette, pipe, chewing tobacco, dissolvable tobacco, dip, snuff or snus. This includes any other product or item containing or reasonable resembling tobacco or tobacco products.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF "[City Name]" , IOWA, that pursuant to the authority granted by Section 142D.5 of the Code of Iowa, tobacco use is prohibited in all City of "[City Name]" parks, trails, and outdoor recreational facilities at all times. No person shall use any form of tobacco at or on any City-owned or operated outdoor park, trail, or facility, which includes, but is not limited to, any park, playground, athletic field and complex, skate park, aquatic areas, shelters, restrooms, trails and parking lot areas. Tobacco-Free signs shall be posted in all parks, trails, and facilities that conform to the requirements of Section 142D.6 of the Code of Iowa.
IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that this Policy will be enforced in the following ways: (a) Appropriate signs shall be posted in the above specified areas; (b) The community, especially park and facility users and staff, will be notified about this Policy; (c) City officials, City employees, parents, coaches and park users are asked to help enforcing the compliance to this Policy by bringing the Policy to the attention of the persons violating the Policy; and (d) Any person found violating this Policy at an organized event, especially a youth event, will be asked to cease use of tobacco or leave the city park or facility premises.
This tobacco free park policy shall be effective immediately upon passage on this _____ day of ______, 2014.
OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
WHEREAS, "[Town Name]" believes that tobacco use in the proximity of children and adults at "[Town Name]" facilities is detrimental to their health and can be offensive to those using such facilities; and
WHEREAS, "[Town Name]" has a unique opportunity to create and sustain an environment that supports a nontobacco norm through a tobacco-free policy, rule enforcement, and adult-peer role modeling on "[Town Name]" outdoor recreational facilities; and