May 3, 2024

Garden City Commission bans smoking at parks

Garden City, KS(westernkansasnews.com) The Garden City Commission passed an ordinance making smoking illegal at public parks Tuesday. The signs will be displayed near playgrounds to keep smoking away from children.

The ordinance will go into affect this week. During the meeting commissioners did discuss how the ordinance will be enforced. City Manager Matt Allen said after he would compare it to how the environmental code works.

“It’ll be enforced through heightened awareness like the signage and expectation that certain behaviors are allowed, certain behaviors aren’t allowed. If people see a violation of that it’s kind of a complaint based system,” said Allen.

It’s not clear at this point when the signs will be put up , but Allen did say hopefully sooner than later. The commission voted 3-1 in favor of the ordinance. Commissioner Troy Unruh was absent and Mayor Roy Cessna voted against it.