Home > Promising Practices > Prohibiting Smoking in Pedestrian Plazas and Public Parks

Prohibiting Smoking in Pedestrian Plazas and Public Parks

A Good Idea

Description

On February 2, 2011, members of the New York City Council (the Council) voted to expand the city's Smoke Free Air Act, banning smoking in city parks, beaches, marinas, boardwalks, pools, recreation centers, pedestrian plazas, and all other property under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department. As one impetus for the legislation, the Council cited the results of a recent study in New York City, which found that 2.5 million people had been exposed to high enough levels of second hand smoke to result in measurable levels of residue in their bodies. The law will be enforced by the Parks Department and if violated, may result in a $50 fine per violation.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the law is to protect the health of New Yorkers by reducing second hand smoke exposure.

Results / Accomplishments

The law was signed into legislation on February 2, 2011; no evaluation has taken place at this time.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
City of New York
Primary Contact
Christine C. Quinn, City Council Speaker
250 Broadway
Suite 1856
New York, New York 10007
(212) 788-7210
http://council.nyc.gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml
Topics
Health / Respiratory Diseases
Health / Prevention & Safety
Community / Governance
Organization(s)
City of New York
Source
New York City Council
Date of implementation
2/2/2011
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
New York City, NY
For more details
http://www.nycgovparks.org/facility/rules/smoke-fr...
Target Audience
Children, Teens, Adults, Women, Men, Older Adults, Families

Related Promising Practices

  1. Not-On-Tobacco (N–O–T)
  2. Project Towards No Tobacco Use
  3. Web-Based Committed Quitters Stop Smoking Plan
  4. ASPIRE
  5. Improving Pediatric Asthma Care in the District of Columbia (IMPACT DC)
  6. Respiratory Health Association

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A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.