Tobacco Free Parks and Playgrounds

Why should parks and playgrounds be tobacco-free?

Secondhand smoke is harmful

Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals including poisons and cancer-causing agents. The 2006 Surgeon General’s report concludes there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from ear infections and reduced lung function. Secondhand smoke is especially harmful for children and adults with asthma and other chronic conditions.

Cigarette litter is hazardous

Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world. They are highly toxic and dangerous to children and animals. Small children are at risk of swallowing, choking or burning themselves with discarded butts and suffering nicotine poisoning.

Children model adult behavior

When children see adults smoking in family-friendly places such as parks and playgrounds, they see smoking as acceptable.

Every year in New York, nearly 36,000 children begin smoking. Every day an estimated 3,900 young people under the age of 19 try their first cigarette and one-third of these children will die prematurely from tobacco-related illness.

Who supports tobacco-free parks and playgrounds?

Capital District residents overwhelmingly favor smoke-free playgrounds (based on the
Capital District 2007 Community Tobacco Survey):

81% of Albany County residents

82% in Rensselaer County residents

78.3% of Schenectady County residents

Over 40 municipalities in New York State have adopted tobacco-free policies for their parks, pools and playgrounds, including the City of Schenectady, the Town of Niskayuna and the Town of Colonie.

What can be done to make parks and playgrounds tobacco-free?

If you and your children would like to help make the parks and playgrounds where you play tobacco-free, join our Smoke-Free Parks & Playgrounds Email Action Team.

Join Our E-mail Action Team

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The Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition invites all cities, towns and villages in Albany, Schenectady and Rensselaer counties to participate in Young Lungs at Play, a statewide initiative to eliminate children’s exposure to secondhand smoke at public parks and playgrounds. The Coalition can assist municipalities and parks directors to:

Develop a local law, ordinance, policy or resolution that prohibits all forms of tobacco use in parks and playgrounds or specific areas within the town or village;

Develop an enforcement plan that includes signage; and/or

Develop a plan to notify and educate park and playground staff as well as the general public.

For more information or to participate in Young Lungs at Play, contact Jeanie Orr at jorr @ setonhealth.org or 233-1106 x 232.