Drafter
Clerk 10/22/2018
Title
A GUIDELINE AND RECOMMENDATION to provide model tobacco-free parks policy that will promote the health, safety, welfare and enjoyment for all persons who visit parks throughout King County.
Body
The Board of Health adopts guidelines that are intended to inform local jurisdictions and parks departments of model language for tobacco-free parks policies in King County.
Attachment A to this Guideline and Recommendation includes specific language recommended for local jurisdictions to implement a policy that is focused on building community norms and support for tobacco-free parks rather than on heavy-handed enforcement, which inequitably affects vulnerable populations.
Many tobacco users today are from populations that have been directly targeted by the tobacco industry, have often been marginalized by society and have less access to cessation services.
The Board of Health recommends that local efforts focus on providing education
and promotion of the policy through signage, webpages and park facility use agreements providing links to cessation services in lieu of fines or citations.