Starting Your Own Local Initiative

Now is the time to learn how you can partner with recreational organizations in your community to implement a recreation-based tobacco prevention strategy.  Mini-grants are available to Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington County youth groups. For a complete guide to creating tobacco free outdoor areas, download our manual Creating Healthy Communities: Using Recreation as a Tool for Tobacco Prevention.  Contact TFYR to discuss how you can begin your local initiative!

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Minnesota Youth Help Enact Tobacco-Free Policies for City Recreational Areas

From literally all corners of Minnesota, youth groups have successfully made the case to their local elected officials for tobacco-free park and recreation areas. As a result, these groups have been rewarded with the adoption of tobacco-free policies for their communities’ parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and beaches!

Canby
On November 8, 2006, the Canby City Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the use of tobacco on all city property, including buildings, vehicles, and parkland, except for public streets, sidewalks, and alleys.  Canby, a city of 1,800, is located in southwestern Minnesota between Marshall and the South Dakota border.  The ordinance was a result of true grass-roots activism: in the spring of 2006, Canby 6th graders wrote letters to the Canby City Council requesting smoke-free bowling and parks.  The council then set up several public forums for discussion of the topic, which resulted in the council adopting the tobacco-free ordinance in November.  Congrats to the Canby youth for making a huge difference in the health of their community!  

Dakota County
On May 22, 2007 the Dakota County Board of Commissioners gave final approval to tobacco-free policy that prohibits tobacco use on all park property owned or operated by the county. Dakota County includes the southeastern Twin Cities metro area.  Adoption of this policy follows the previous adoption of three municipal park policies in Dakota County. The policy covers all property at all times, with three small exemptions: roadways & parking lots, individually rented campsites, and traditional or spiritual Native American ceremonies. The Dakota County park system includes five large regional parks/park reserves, a regional trail along the Mississippi River and an off-leash dog park. The County Board directed staff to look at extending the policy to all county property (beyond just parks), as well as to transforming the policy into an ordinance.

Over five months, the Dakota County Public Health Department coordinated the work of over 40 high school students from 9 high schools to prepare and advocate for the policy. These schools included Apple Valley, Eagan, Eastview, School of Environmental Studies, Henry Sibley, Hastings, St. Thomas Academy, Convent of the Visitation, and Harding. Public Heath worked closely with the County Parks Department in taking the policy to the Board, and they continue to work together on implementation of the policy, which takes effect on June 22, 2007.

Ham Lake
On January 2, 2007, the Ham Lake City Council voted to adopt a tobacco-free policy that covers the city's entire park system.  Ham Lake is a northern Twin Cities suburb located in Anoka County .   Ham Lake becomes the sixth city in Anoka County to adopt a tobacco-free park policy.  The policy was a result of a tremendous effort by a 7th-grade Ham Lake Girl Scout troop to gather information and present it to the city's park board and city council.  The Girl Scouts took on the tobacco-free parks project to earn their Silver Award.  Anoka County Community Health and the Girl Scouts troop are assisting Ham Lake city officials in promoting the new policy.

Hastings
On May 7, 2007, the Hastings City Council voted to adopt a tobacco-free policy that covers the city's entire 33 parks and the Hastings Public Square green space. Hastings is a southeastern Twin Cities suburb located in Dakota County. Hastings becomes the third city in Dakota County to adopt a tobacco-free park policy. The policy was a result of a tremendous effort by three Hastings High School student leadership groups who have worked since the summer of 2006 to gather information and present it to the city’s park board and city council. The students took on the tobacco-free parks project to earn leadership service hours for their schools groups. Dakota County Public Health and the students are assisting Hastings city officials in promoting the new policy

Olmsted County
Earlier this winter, the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners adopted a smoke-free ordinance that includes, among many other provisions, the outdoor areas of a public recreation center or public park when in use by youth under the age of 18, including places such as the Oxbow Park and Zoo, playgrounds, swimming pools, and recreational areas.   The ordinance is unique in that is covers not only Olmsted County parks, but all parks located within municipalities in Olmsted County.  Olmsted County Public Health Services provided information and assistance throughout the ordinance adoption process and is working to implement the ordinance throughout the county.

Round Lake
On May 8, 2007, the Round Lake City Council voted to adopt a tobacco-free policy that covers all recreational facilities in the city. Rounds Lake is a city of 420 people located in far southwestern Minnesota, just south of Worthington on the Iowa border.  Round Lake becomes the third city in Nobles County to adopt a tobacco-free park policy! The policy was a result of the work of youth advocates from the Nobles County Partners in Prevention group, who gave a powerful presentation to policy makers and also did a great job answering questions about the policy.

St. Francis
Also on January 2, 2007, the St. Francis City Council voted to adopt a tobacco-free policy that covers the city's entire park system.  St. Francis is a northern Twin Cities suburb located in Anoka County.  St. Francis becomes the seventh city in Anoka County to adopt a tobacco-free park policy!  The policy was a result of many months of educating St. Francis city officials by the Saints Against Destructive Decisions group from St. Francis High School.   Anoka County Community Health is assisting St. Francis city officials in promoting the new policy.