Implementing a Successful Tobacco-Free Parks Strategy

Audience: Beginning advocates who want to build basic skills in community advocacy. Key Points: The American NonSmokers Rights Foundation reports that 1900 communities in the U.S. restrict smoking outdoors. Communities adopt Tobacco-Free Park Policies for similar reasons. First, the philosophy of Parks & Recreation is to promote healthy lifestyles. Second, youth receive a mixed message when they see adults use tobacco. Third, discarded tobacco materials are the most littered items in the world; not biodegradable, ingested by children, a cause of fires, and a costly clean-up burden. The policy may be seen as an intrusion on individuals' rights & cause concerns about policy enforcement and penalties. Obtaining & documenting strong communty support is essential. In Clarksburg, West Virginia, advocates convinced the Clarksburg Park Board Commissioners to adopt a Tobacco-Free Policy for the 20 city parks, Educational Experience: Key Points used to develop campaign strategies that: 1. Convey POSITIVE messages. Youth groups had a display at new dog park; distributed Tobacco-Free Park information at soccer games; Provided banners promoting the WV tobacco quitline & volunteered for park event clean-up. 2. Emphasize the benefits Educate about Tobacco Free Parks & provide a model policy. 3. Show community support Tobacco Free Parks' FACEBOOK page Letters of Support Petitions 4. Offer Help at beginning Implementation. Ex: Provide signage 5. Show Appreciation with letters & certificates. Benefits: Develop community advocacy strategies with results similar to Clarksburg's . A Tobacco-Free Policy was unanimously adopted April 21, 2011.