Redding seeks smoking ban at city parks

It has been two years since Whiskeytown National Recreation Area went smoke-free at its four beaches, and in that time, public complaints against the ban have been nonexistent. The policy is paving the way for Redding to take up a similar measure at its city parks this week. The Community Services Advisory Commission is expected to take up the issue Wednesday, at the recommendation of Kim Niemer, Redding community services director, and Shasta County Tobacco Education Coalition.

"Trails provide a natural, healthy environment, and smoking seems to be counter to that," Niemer said. The issue might have been a long time coming, considering how Shasta County nearly 20 years ago was a trailblazer when it approved the landmark initiative that banned smoking in restaurants and public offices. Redding has smoke-free zones for the Redding Library and City Hall. It also bars smoking within 50 feet of a playground and on the Sacramento River Trail because of fire concerns.

The proposal takes matters a step further, Niemer said. "We get complaints from people about the smoking, particularly around picnic pavilions," she said. "The other issue for us is the maintenance end of it. … People don't think twice about dropping their cigarette butts and stamping them out on the ground." Support from the commission to ban smoking at city-owned and city-managed neighborhood and community parks and trails will send the issue to the Redding City Council for debate and a vote. More than 130 California communities have smoke-free parks.

Among those is Anderson, whose law went into effect last year not just at parks but also at events and business entrances. Jim Milestone, Whiskeytown park superintendent, recalled concerns raised at the public meetings that preceded the decision to prohibit smoking in the sandy areas were minimal. Only one person expressed dismay at the erosion of personal rights. "I listened to him very carefully. But your lungs are more important, and you shouldn't have to have to inhale anyone's smoke," said Milestone, who estimates 70 percent of visitors are women and children. No longer do families have apprehensions about spreading their blankets on the sand, save for twigs and maybe other beach debris.

 "If you walk down the beach, you only see a few cigarette butts," he said. In preparation to make its recommendation, the coalition in August and earlier this month surveyed park visitors. Of the 344 responses it received, nearly three-quarters said they favored a no-smoking policy at city parks, trails and recreation areas. The respondents were all adults. Niemer said enforcement actions will be by park staff, meaning don't expect police to be patrolling the parks. "The county has tobacco enforcement officers who will help with efforts. The education piece is important," she said. "A regular citizen can remind the person they cannot smoke."