Glenbard students clean up park, seek tobacco-free park policies

On July 8, DuPage County Glenbard Reality Illinois students organized a park cleanup of tobacco-related trash. The students are working for tobacco-free park policies at all area parks. On Aug. 4, they will present the items of tobacco trash they collected to the Glen Ellyn Park District and urge officials to make policy changes to support tobacco-free parks.

Reality Illinois is a statewide anti-tobacco movement created by high school students that works to encourage healthy lifestyles, reduce secondhand smoke and protect the environment by promoting tobacco-free park policies.

The dangers from smoking don't stop once a cigarette is stubbed out. Cigarette butts leach toxic chemicals and carcinogens that pollute the environment and are the most littered item in the country.

Reality Illinois is funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health and DuPage County Health Department.