Seattle makes gentle push to control city park users exposure to smoking

SEATTLE Parks Superintendent Timothy Gallagaher snapped to his senses on a new smoking policy for city parks. There will be a ban on smoking in parts of parks, but not throughout parks as first announced.

The latest plan says, "Smoking, chewing, or other tobacco use is banned within 25 feet of other park patrons and in play areas, beaches, or playgrounds." That language was recommended by the park board, but Gallagher a day earlier opted to go further and impose the broader ban.

Overkill. The proposal spurred a slew of angry calls and e-mails — hence, the decision to ease into smoke-free parks.

Seattleites generally like to do the right, civic-minded thing but don't like to be "nannied" into doing so. Consider the "no" vote last year on a plastic bag fee. People will gradually voluntarily shift away from plastic bags but they don't want to be forced into the behavior change.

Seattle is becoming a no-smoking city. Smokers have fewer places to puff. As angry as that makes some people, residents will adjust to no smoking in more places over time.

The superintendent cited a Stanford University study showing secondhand smoke in an outdoor area a few feet downwind can expose a nonsmoker to unhealthy pollutants. And so it makes sense to limit smoking in more-congested areas of parks and where kids are more present.

What is surprising about Gallagher's no-smoking plan is how many cities across the country are limiting or banning smoking, including several in Washington state.

Smoking is increasingly becoming an activity an individual does in the privacy of the home, backyard or walking along a street.

The superintendent and park board also considered banning spitting in parks, which was in the realm of the ridiculous. Joggers, walkers, baseball players — hey it's not pretty — spit in the parks.

Everything that is dirty or unpleasant cannot be banned from parks. Candy and food wrappers are messy. Some individuals' conduct is offensive.

Gallagher adopted a few other new rules, such as no glass products in play or beach areas and no backpacks or suitcases left untended in parks. Those are reasonable enough.

The superintendent is right to push parks toward nonsmoking status, but better to make the move gently, without a heavy hand.