TOBACCO FREE YOUTH RECREATION

Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation (TFYR) assists communities in their efforts to create a tobacco-free environment where they can promote and tobacco-free lifestyles. This is accomplished by helping youth and adult community members partner with policy makers to implement a recreation-based tobacco prevention strategy.

TFYR’s Focus

A primary focus of TFYR’s work is to assist Minnesota communities in adopting tobacco-free policies for their parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and other outdoor recreational facilities.

More than 150 Minnesota communities have created tobacco-free recreation areas for their residents and visitors. To view a directory of Minnesota’s tobacco-free parks, zoos, fairgrounds, and other recreation areas, visit the TFYR policy directory.

TFYR Policy Directory
Tobacco-Free Parks Policy Resources

TFYR has policy implementation and promotion materials for community groups and policy makers. These materials are intended to assist in efforts to create and promote tobacco-free environments in your community.

Policy Publicity Packet

Has your community recently adopted a tobacco-free policy for its park and recreational facilities? Use TFYR’s Policy Publicity Packet for ideas on how to communicate the new policy to community members. A well-publicized policy informs park and recreational facility users why the policy was enacted and helps reduce policy violations.

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A Policy Maker’s Guide to Tobacco-Free Policies for Parks, Playgrounds and Athletic Facilities

This guide is intended to provide local policy maker’s information on how this type of policy can benefit their community.

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Playing Tobacco-Free: A Youth Guide for Policy Advocacy

A step-by-step approach to tobacco-free park policies for youth advocates. TFYR will use this guide to train youth groups on park policy advocacy. Contact us to schedule a training session.

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Playing Tobacco Free Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides information on why communities should have tobacco-free policies for outdoor recreational facilities.

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Model Tobacco-Free Parks Policy

This model policy language was created by TFYR with assistance from the Public Health Law Center. It has been adopted and implemented by communities throughout Minnesota.

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Tobacco-Free Policies for Other Outdoor Spaces in Minnesota

Although TFYR has traditionally focused on tobacco-free policies for recreational areas, the program also assists communities with tobacco-free policies for other outdoor spaces such as:

  • School grounds
  • Fair grounds
  • Public grounds (such as city- or county-owned property)
  • Employer grounds
  • Healthcare facility grounds

A number of resources exist for communities interested in implementing tobacco-free policies for their outdoor spaces. Materials include:

Model Policy for Tobacco-Free K-12 Schools
This model policy language, written by the Public Health Law Center, can be adopted by districts in Minnesota to prohibit the use or promotion of tobacco products on school grounds and at off-campus school-sponsored events.

Tobacco-Free County Grounds in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
This fact sheet provides answers to common questions regarding tobacco-free grounds policies.

Sample tobacco-free grounds policy
This sample policy language was created by the Public Health Law Center.

Model policies for fairs, rodeos and outdoor events
This model policy language was created by TFYR with assistance from the Public Health Law Center. It has been adopted and implemented by communities throughout Minnesota.

Metal Tobacco-Free Parks Signs
Minnesota cities that adopt comprehensive tobacco-free policies for their recreational facilities and park property can order FREE metal 12” x 18” or 12” x 12” tobacco free park signs from TFYR to help with policy implementation.

Metal Tobacco-Free/E-Cig Free Grounds Signs
To help with policy implementation, ANSR offers FREE permanent 12” x 18” to Minnesota communities that adopt comprehensive tobacco-free policies for their grounds. A copy of the policy is required prior to providing signs, along with a completed sign order form.

Metal Tobacco-Free/E-Cig-Free School Grounds Signs
To help with policy implementation, ANSR offers FREE permanent 12” x 18” to Minnesota schools that adopt comprehensive tobacco-free policies for their grounds. A copy of the policy is required prior to providing signs, along with a completed sign order form.