After outcry, parks smoking ban is relaxed

Seattle's parks superintendent has relaxed a ban on smoking in city parks just a day after he announced it would take effect April 1.

The revised rule that Superintendent Timothy Gallagher announced late Thursday prohibits "smoking, chewing or other tobacco use" within 25 feet of other park patrons.

On Wednesday, Gallagher announced a ban on tobacco use anywhere in city parks as a health measure to protect people from secondhand smoke.

He backtracked in a statement Thursday, saying he's decided that a gradual approach to a smoking ban is reasonable, "based on the input from the public" that followed his initial decision.

A 25-foot rule is what the Board of Park Commissioners had recommended.