A Wisconsin city has had enough of cigarettes and has moved to ban smoking and vaping in all city-owned parks.
The Marshfield Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee this week voted unanimously to create an ordinance to ban smoking in parks, which would allow police to enforce the policy.
A Wisconsin city has had enough of cigarettes and has moved to ban smoking and vaping in all city-owned parks.
The Marshfield Parks, Recreation and Forestry Committee this week voted unanimously to create an ordinance to ban smoking in parks, which would allow police to enforce the policy.
In a city memo, Parks and Recreation director Justin Casperson said the department frequently receives complaints about people smoking near playgrounds and spectator areas. Discarded cigarette butts also cause damage to the environment, are a health risk to children and animals, and have to be removed using city resources, Casperson said, according to the Marshfield News Herald.
The ordinance also applies to trails and cemeteries, as well as around community centers.
Smoking is defined in the policy as "inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, weed, plant or other combustible organic or chemical substance."
Also prohibited under the new policy is the use of any "vapor device."
The City Council will now need to approve the policy.
