- 8/26/2010 - Celebrate the Grand Opening of Discovery Pond
- 8/26/2010 - Park District partnership with Goodwill STEPS program benefits both youth and the community
- 8/26/2010 - Park Board to explore healthy foods policy
- 7/30/2010 - Audit report: 11 years with no findings
- 7/30/2010 - Garfield Park is temporarily closed during 2005 Park Improvement Bond construction work
- 7/16/2010 - Vote Daily for Dog Park Video!
- 6/30/2010 - Tacoma resident is one of 59 contestants vying for half-million dollar donation
- 6/18/2010 - Life Jacket Program at Point Defiance Marina
- 5/28/2010 - Vision Presented for Restoration of People’s Pool
- 5/28/2010 - Point Defiance Kiosk Relocation and Rejuvenation
Tacoma’s parks now smoke-free
Nov 27, 2009
Effective November 2, Tacoma joined more than 400 hundred U.S. cities that prohibit smoking in parks. More than 80% of Pierce County residents are non-smokers and two cities in the county, Gig Harbor and Puyallup, have already adopted similar laws.The Tacoma City Council studied the proposed revision to the Tacoma Municipal Code in committee before adopting the legislation as a means of supporting Metro Parks' mission to provide healthy opportunities to play, learn and grow.
Smoking is the nation's leading cause of preventable deaths. About 1,000 people in Pierce County die each year from tobacco-related illnesses. Public testimony during the City Council meetings preceding the October 19 adoption unanimously urged council members to adopt the ban.
Smoking in parks has been designated as a misdemeanor with a potential $25 penalty. The law clearly declares that all park properties, both developed and undeveloped, are designated smoke-free areas. This applies to all properties owned and operated by Metro Parks in Tacoma, as well as parks owned by the City of Tacoma. The ordinance prohibits smoking anywhere on these properties including parking lots and promenades, and includes all public recreation spaces such as fishing piers and ballparks. Much like the municipal helmet law, park visitors are expected to comply with the law regardless of whether onsite signage is present or not.
Thank you in advance for recognizing the importance of your role in our community's wellness and for helping to create healthy opportunities, to play, learn and grow, through compliance and support of the Smoke-Free Parks law. We ask that you share this information with as many people as possible as we work to educate the community of this new legislation.
