A resolution
adopted by The Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District, Illinois
Presented by Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO on September 10, 2014
Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SMOKE FREE PARKS AND BEACHES
Body
WHEREAS, The Chicago Park District is dedicated to keeping its beaches, parks, playgrounds, playlots, general facilities and harbors safe, clean, healthy and pleasant for everyone;
WHEREAS, Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States;
WHEREAS, The term smoking refers to inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted or vaporized substance in any manner or form, including tobacco and marijuana used for medical or any other purpose;
WHEREAS, Smoking is ultimately harmful to every user’s health, directly causing cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and premature death;
WHEREAS, Secondhand smoke has been found to cause coronary heart disease in non-smokers and is a threat to the personal health of everyone, especially persons with asthma, other respiratory problems, the elderly and children;
WHEREAS, Smoking often begins in childhood and adolescence and continues on due to the powerfully addictive substance found in tobacco, Nicotine. Moreover, children and youth who observe smoking at public beaches, parks, playgrounds and playlots may model this harmful behavior;
WHEREAS, Careless disposal of smoking materials creates a fire hazard and litter that is both unsightly and unhealthy. These materials are particularly hazardous to children who may handle and/or ingest them. These materials further pose harm to wildlife. Habitats in our parks, surrounding harbors, rivers, lagoons and the lake may be adversely impacted by the litter tobacco use generates;
WHEREAS, The Chicago Park District may promulgate such rules and regulations as reasonably necessary to implement this Resolution and ensure compliance; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners and the General Superintendent, assembled this tenth day of September, 2014, do hereby resolve that no person shall be permitted to smoke in any public park, beach, playground, playlot, general facilities and harbors under the control of the Chicago Park District; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any person found in violation of this Resolution is subject to a fine of $500.00 as set forth in Chapter VII § D of the Chicago Park District Code.
Bryan Traubert Michael P. Kelly
President, Board of Commissioners General Superintendent & CEO