Smoking ban enacted in Vernon Hills parks
Smokers can still light up elsewhere but areas near playgrounds, athletic fields and the skate park in the Vernon Hills Park District system are off limits.
Though it elected not to go as far as some other entities, the Vernon Hills Park District board last week unanimously agreed to tighten the rules on smoking.
"I think we're starting out trying to emphasize the role modeling for the children," said Marla Pineiro, acting executive director.
"Right now it's more the areas where the kids will be."
The ordinance prohibits smoking within 25 feet of those areas. Offenders are warned for a first offense. Repeat offenders could have any applicable permit revoked and be fined a maximum of $100.
Vernon Hills joins Zion and Buffalo Grove as park districts that exceed state law regarding public places, which bans smoking inside buildings and within 15 feet of vents and doors.
Zion's ordinance, which took effect June 18, includes all outdoor areas except its two golf courses, for example.
Smoking also is restricted to varying degrees in outdoor areas in several municipal park departments.
Besides its public parks, Highland Park has one of the more extensive ordinances. Smoking is banned within 25 feet of outdoor dining areas, driving ranges, miniature golf courses, gas stations, the city-owned parking lot and other areas.
The Vernon Hills Park District didn't want to ban smoking everywhere yet, said park board President Jim Ballowe. He cited someone walking on a trail as an example.
"The consensus was those people were not bothering anyone," he said.
The Vernon Hills Park District vote came after a presentation by REALITY Illinois, a countywide youth group under the auspices of Tobacco Free Lake County, funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
"I want to credit them for bringing it to the attention of our board," Pineiro said. "It would have happened eventually but not as quickly."
The group this year focused on parks and collected 550 responses for a survey of Lake County residents. The group made a presentation to the Vernon Hills Park District in April and was on hand for the discussion in May.
"Now they know in the future if there's something they want to see changed, they know how that process works," said Barbara deNekker, community health specialist with Tobacco Free Lake County.