Several parks in Cottonwood are now smoke free, except for certain designated areas.
The rules about tobacco use were passed earlier this year after first being proposed by a youth group in December.
Now the city has started to put up signs to let people know where they can and cannot smoke.
“Our parks should be clean, healthy places for our children to visit. It makes sense to protect our citizens and visitors from second-hand smoke and at the same time, reduce the litter due to improperly discarded cigarette butts and chewing tobacco,” Mayor Diane Joens said. “Creating smoke-free zones ensure the thousands of visitors to our parks each year will have a safe and healthy environment.”
The work behind the smoking ban was largely the doing of the Yavapai Anti-tobacco Coalition of Youth, which made a presentation to the parks and recreation commission.
The group also collected tobacco-related litter from local parks and traveled to Phoenix to speak with elected state leaders.
To read the full story, see the Wednesday, June 3, edition of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
