Official website of the
City of Vancouver, Washington

 Advisory commission recommends tobacco ban in parks

Monday, February 22, 2010
Contact: Jane Tesner Kleiner, Parks Manager, 360.619.1113
E-mail: 

The Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission recommended a proposal banning tobacco use in all public parks, trails and sports fields at a meeting Friday.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Clark County Commissioners and the Vancouver City Council to each adopt ordinances prohibiting tobacco use in public parks, trails and sports fields by amending the Clark County Code and Vancouver Municipal Code.

“Our elected officials have the opportunity to make Vancouver a healthier community, especially for children,” said Florence Wager, co-chair of the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

The City Council and Board of Clark County Commissioners will discuss the proposal at future work sessions. If the proposal advances from there, the proposed ordinances would be presented in a series of pubic hearings, which would include additional opportunities for community input.

“A voluntary tobacco-free policy has been in place at city and county parks and sports fields since 2005,” said Pete Mayer, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Director. “This proposal would reinforce the agency's mission and commitment to providing safe and healthy places to recreate.”

If enacted, local law enforcement would not assign or reallocate existing resources specifically towards enforcing the tobacco ban, a misdemeanor violation.  Existing signs would be modified and new park rules signs would be installed over time as funding allows.  An information and awareness campaign would be launched as a primary strategy to seek compliance.

Return to news release index