City of Olympia Parks to go Smoke Free Beginning January 1

Submitted by City of Olympia

Beginning January 1, 2018, all City of Olympia parks and trails will be smoke free. The smoking ban includes cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and all other vaping devices; however, the new rules do allow for the use of chewing tobacco in a park. Under state law, smoking marijuana is illegal in all public places including parks.

The City moved to make parks and trails smoke free in order to:

• 

  Create healthy and safe environments for park users.

• Protect parks and natural areas from potential risk of fires.
• Reduce the environmental harm to parks and natural areas caused by the littering of cigarette butts and other tobacco-related waste.
• Reduce secondhand smoke exposure to residents, particularly children and youth who use City parks and trails.

Signage about the new prohibition will be installed in all parks. Should citizens want to report violations, they are encouraged to contact a Park Ranger at 360.570.3905.

For help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT NOW or 1-800-784-8669 for the Washington State Quitline or visit www.smokefree.gov