Kent bans smoking in all city parks

The Kent City Council passed a resolution that makes smoking, vaping or any use of tobacco products in parks illegal.

With the resolution, Kent became the fifth city in King County to enact a smoking ban on all parks. As of July 2015, all Seattle parks became smoke free. Other cities that have banned smoking from parks include Bothell, Burien, Shoreline and Woodinville

“The city of Kent is a little behind this trend,” said parks director, Julie Parascondola. “We want our parks to be tangible reflections of the high quality of life in our community.”

“We understand that we can’t prevent people from smoking, but promoting healthier lifestyle choices aligns directly with our mission of fostering overall wellness for Kent residents and parks’ visitors,” Parascondola said.

Kent's ban went into effect on Aug. 15. But the city is working on placing signs in all city parks to alert the public of the change, according to a December news release.

If the product emits smoke, vapor, or contains tobacco, it is prohibited under the new ordinance. The smoking ban excludes the Riverbend Golf Course facility.

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