A ban on smoking in Atlanta parks — a wide-ranging prohibition that would cover playgrounds, athletic fields, aquatic areas, tennis courts, golf courses, walking trails and playgrounds — came closer to reality on Tuesday.
After a string of high school students, nonprofit workers and hospital executives spoke in support of the ban, a committee of Atlanta's City Council voted 4-1 to send the ordinance to the full City Council for consideration as soon as Monday.
It would take effect immediately if the council approves it and Mayor Kasim Reed signs it. The city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs pushed for the measure with Reed's blessing. The ordinance eventually collected support from key legislators.
"It's about enjoyment," said Joyce Sheperd, a city councilwoman from southeast Atlanta who co-sponsored the legislation. "I don't want people smoking around my grandkids."
At the meeting, Joseph Cole, a high school student from the Carver School of Health Sciences and Research, said he tries to keep his 4-year-old sister away from cigarette butts when he takes her to the basketball court.
It's unclear if the legislation will run into roadblocks next week. But if Tuesday's proceedings are any indication, the measure has strong support from groups including Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the American Heart Association, as well as downtown civic associations.
Atlanta is the latest jurisdiction to try to curb smoking or tobacco use in parks or public places.
Alpharetta, Decatur, Doraville, Douglasville, Duluth, Gainesville, Marietta and Roswell are among the local cities that have enacted legislation prohibiting smoking in public parks. Clayton, Douglas, Forsyth and Henry counties also have done so.
Things do not always go smoothly. Norcross recently struck down an anti-smoking measure only a month after passing it. And in Roswell, City Councilwoman Betty Price said the parks department couldn't point to a single complaint about smoking before the city enacted a ban.
On Tuesday, Dave Walker, a community activist from East Atlanta, was the only resident to speak against the proposed measure.
"Not one member of this committee, not the commissioner, has the right to tell me what I can eat, what I can smoke," Walker said. "Are cigarettes a legal substance? Don't everybody jump up at one time! Yes, they are."
In Atlanta, city officials said fines could go as high as $1,000 under the law, but penalties that steep are unlikely. A warning and education period would probably occur before enforcement starts, said George Dusenbury, the city's parks commissioner.
David Wardell, vice president of operations and public safety for the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, said the downtown group supported the ban. As much as a gallon of cigarette butts are littered in Woodruff Park every day, and 4,500 college students per hour walk through the downtown park at peak times, Wardell said.
The committee approved an exception for Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Park Tavern and Chastain Park Amphitheatre.
June Deen, state director of the American Lung Association, said Tuesday's vote was encouraging.
"The legislation is good for kids, good for parks and it's good for Atlanta," said Deen, who lives near Candler Park. "Kids model their behavior after adults."
Councilman Alex Wan, whose district includes Virginia-Highland and Morningside, said the city's construction of playgrounds, splash pads, trails and skateboard parks makes outdoor smoking more problematic.
"With these increased amenities, we are seeing more kids in our parks," Wan said. "I don't think limiting smoking in parks is unreasonable."
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