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Ashland bans smoking at areas kids use By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND - The city has banned smoking at Ashland Skate Park, the Darex Family Ice Rink arena, the Daniel Meyer Swimming Pool and the swimming hole and beach on Upper Granite Street, sites popular with children. Parks and recreation commissioners approved a smoking ban at the areas Monday. Other parks are not affected. The measure passed 3-1. Chairman Rick Landt, who opposed the measure, said he would prefer voluntary compliance. Commissioner Sally Jones pushed a ban in all parks. Laurie McGraw advocated for a ban in areas that children are likely to use. "I would much prefer it to have gone the other way," said Landt. "The result is one I support. The process of getting there is not one that I support." Signs at the Darex and Daniel Meyer sites asking smokers to refrain have eased the problem, said Landt. He felt skate park users were singled out by the action. "It could be perceived as being discriminatory toward young people," said Landt. "My preference is to do education and to ask for voluntary compliance," said Jo Anne Eggers, who voted for the motion. "But what swayed me in this one is that our police officer reported that when users at the skate park who smoked were asked to refrain ... they didn't give voluntarily compliance. They said show me where it says that. "I really want to have not so many 'don't do this, don't do that' ... but I guess we are not at that place in our culture." Ashland police officer Teri DeSilva said Oregon law gives her the authority to cite smokers under 18. "I've issued maybe two or three citations for underage smoking in three years at the skate park," said DeSilva. "They usually put them out when they see us." DeSilva says the new regulation will help keep the park cleaner. There are no regulations that ban smoking at parks in Central Point, Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix or Talent. Jackson County does not regulate smoking in parks, but would if there was severe fire danger. The Medford Parks Department bans smoking at the skateboard park, the Bear Creek Park amphitheater and at sites it operates that are owned by the Medford School District. Grants Pass has banned smoking in all parks and stadium seating, according to Jones. California passed a law on Aug. 1 that prohibits smoking in all public playgrounds. Jones plans to research other smoking policies and pursue a more extensive ban. "I just think that living a healthy life style is something that we should be conscious of when we are dealing with parks and recreation," said Jones. "I think we definitely need to do the playground thing at least." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.