Playing Tobacco Free: Helping Your Community Adopt a Tobacco- Free Policy for its Parks, Playgrounds, and Athletic Facilities Brittany McFadden Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation program, Association for NonSmokersMinnesota

Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Overview Minnesota-based statewide program of the Association for NonsmokersMinnesota Funded by MN Dept. of Health to provide training, technical assistance, and materials to local MDH grantees and other advocates working on tobacco-free park and recreation policy initiatives in Minnesota

Evidence Supporting Our Recommendations The Surgeon Generals Report (1994) and CDC recommend that communities adopt smoke-free policies as a strategy to prevent youth smoking Park Policies Lay the Foundation for Future Local Policy Work Build relationships with policy makers Engage community members in policy discussions Build momentum for worksite/public places ordinances Change community norms

Minnesota Cities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies January 2003

Minnesota Cities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies February 2004

Minnesota Cities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies June 2006

Twin Cities Metro Cities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies June 2006

TFYR Successes 81 city & 2 county policies since cities have included their golf courses Created a domino effect Signs are becoming recognizable from city to city More cities are considering policies Unique niche of policy work

Why are communities working on park policies? Help change social norms about tobacco use Ensure that participants and spectators are not exposed to secondhand smoke Promote positive role modeling Involve youth and community members in advocacy Reduce harmful cigarette litter

Minnesotans support tobacco-free park policies Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study carried out by the University of Minnesota in summer of 2004 Survey mailed to 2,400 adults from metro and greater MN 1,500 surveys returned Results: 70% of Minnesota adults support tobacco-free park and recreation areas 66% of golfers support these policies 73% of families with children support these policies

Minnesota park directors observations after implementing policies: 88% reported no change in park usage (no loss of park users) 71% reported less smoking in parks 58% reported cleaner park areas U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

Communities without policies have enforcement concerns Of the MN Park Directors surveyed: 73% concerned about whether there should be penalties 90% concerned about enforcement 49% concerned with lack public of interest U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

Enforcement concerns are unfounded where policies are in place Of the MN Park Directors surveyed: 26% reported compliance issues 24% reported staff concerns about enforcement 39% reported difficulty monitoring areas covered by the policy U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

How are these policies enforced? Similar to other park policies, such as alcohol and litter policies, primary enforcement is with signs. Most communities do not ask their police to actively patrol the parks. Instead, they rely on peer enforcement among park users. Community awareness through policy manuals, newsletters, and local media. Reminders at coaches or parents meetings, or signed statements from teams, participants, coaches, and parents. Each departments requirements vary – but some departments ask violators to leave the park area for the remainder of the event.

Policy Initiative Process

TFYRs Policy Advocacy Handbook Developed in 2002 Focuses on park policies Available online: 3Resources.htm

Involving Youth Advocates Hands-on project that usually gets positive results Youth are natural advocates since they are the regular park users Youth gain experience in local government and public speaking Opportunity to gain volunteer hours/improve college applications

Five Major Steps for Success 1. Assess your community 2. Create your policy request 3. Build support for your policy 4. Plan your presentation 5. Thank & Promote!

Mobilize Your Coalition (Steps 1-2) Assess your groups readiness Attend TFYRs policy initiative training Youth training packet

Assess the Community (Steps 3-6) Determine who makes the decisions Inventory the communitys recreational facilities Gauge community support Develop your policy request

Build Policy Support (Steps 7-10) Ask community members to support your policy request Brochures Sample letters of support & petitions TFYR portable display Collect cigarette litter as evidence Capitalize on media advocacy Find a champion from the Park & Rec staff Hold informal discussions with policy makers

Assist with Policy Adoption (Steps 11-16) Get on the agenda of Park Board or City Council meeting Plan your presentation & prepare speakers TFYR powerpoint Policy Makers Guide Present policy request and evidence Assist in policy development Continue building support Attend remaining public hearings

Life after Policy Adoption (Steps 17-18) Assist with policy implementation Tobacco-free park signs Policy publicity packet Thank you postcards Look for opportunities to promote the tobacco-free message

Sample Media Coverage

Educational Ads

TFYR Publicity Materials Signs Ads News releases Display Postcards Banners Pledges Posters

Thank You Postcard

TFYR Policy Resources PowerPoint/overhead presentation for board and city council meetings Policy Makers Guide to Tobacco- Free Policies for Recreational Facilities Model policy for city-owned recreational facilities Metal signs for Minnesota cities

Contact Information Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Brittany McFadden Association for Nonsmokers-MN 2395 University Ave West, Suite 310 St. Paul, MN (651) ;