February 23, 2007
Indianola Makes Its Parks and Recreation Facilities Tobacco Free

At its January meeting, the Indianola Parks & Recreation Commission voted to adopt a tobacco-free parks policy. Use of any smoking or spit tobacco product is prohibited in all city parks and outdoor recreational facilities at all times.  This includes parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and complexes, the skate park, aquatic areas, shelters, restrooms, trails and parking lot areas. While Indianola is the first city in Iowa to implement such a policy that covers every park and outdoor recreational facility, it is a growing trend nationally.  Over 80 cities in Minnesota already have tobacco-free park and recreation areas, and states from Maine to California have established state-wide initiatives to limit exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor recreation settings. The new policy will create a consistent tobacco-free policy at all city and school recreational and sports facilities in Indianola.  The Indianola Community School District has adopted a tobacco-free buildings and grounds policy, and the city has designated all City-owned buildings smoke-free. In Minnesota, a survey of park directors in cities with tobacco-free policies found that 58% reported cleaner park areas, which reduced litter and maintenance costs.1  Cigarette butts are the most common litter in parks, with trillions littered each year worldwide2.  They are not biodegradable; the filter tips can take many years to decompose, and can lead to serious health effects if ingested by children. Clark Raney, Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission, said that this policy will help parents, leaders and recreation officials be positive role models for youth.  “Adult actions influence youth,” he said.  “The tobacco-free policy will limit exposure to smoking adults in parks and at recreation events. It will help establish the community norm that tobacco use is not a healthy behavior for young people or adults, especially in areas designated to promote community wellness.” Glen Cowan, Parks and Recreation Director, said it is easy to argue that this type of policy is good for the community.  “We believe that tobacco use in park areas is detrimental to the health of everyone using the park system and can be offensive to those using Indianola’s parks and recreational facilities. He stated that the policy may even help reduce youth tobacco use.  “Tobacco use and secondhand smoke just don’t belong in park areas where people go to improve their fitness and enjoy nature,” he said.  Sources: 1http://www.ansrmn.org/PDF%20Files/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20City%20Policy.pdf [2] Cigarettelitter.org, “Cigarette Litter” http://www.cigarettelitter.org.  May 2002.