Bentonville says NO to park ban
Ban On Smoking In Parks Pushed Off In Bentonville
April 11, 2007
The Bentonville City Council has tabled a proposal to ban smoking in city parks, first suggested by a 13-year-old girl who plays softball and soccer in the parks. Members of the council decided at a meeting last night to delay action on the measure so they could assess the impact and get response from residents.
The Bentonville City Council has tabled a proposal to ban smoking in city parks, first suggested by a 13-year-old girl who plays softball and soccer in the parks. Members of the council decided at a meeting last night to delay action on the measure so they could assess the impact and get response from residents.
The city Parks Advisory Board, a volunteer group, voted unanimously in March to recommend the ban first proposed by teenager Kelsey Atwood, who spoke in favor of the measure before the council last night.
The council voted 5-to-2 to delay acting on the proposal, despite the urging of Mayor Bob McCaslin to vote the measure up or down.
Todd Franke, who serves on the city’s Parks Advisory Board, said the group wants to promote a healthy atmosphere. He said the city already prohibits alcohol in parks, so why not prohibit smoking?
But Alderman Ed Austin expressed reservations about the proposal, while noting that he led an earlier — and successful — effort to ban smoking inside city buildings and vehicles. Austin said the park-smoking ban was an attempt at over-regulation. He said it’s not possible to legislate a perfect world for everybody.
The youngster who raised the idea said she had worked on a ban since last fall. She said she was pleased that the council decided to proceed with caution, rather than make a hasty decision — but hopes it is eventually approved.
Kelsey said her efforts had turned out to be a good exercise in civic governance. She said she had learned that an individual can actually do something, and can go before the City Council and be considered.
