Effective June 18, 2009, all of Zion Park District’s parks will be smoke free.  According to the new ordinance, “No person shall smoke any cigar, cigarette, or pipe in or on any Park District park, facility, parking lot, or trail, with the exception of Shiloh Golf Course and Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course.”

The Healthy YOUth Program at Zion-Benton Township High School was instrumental in promoting smoke free parks to the Zion Park District Board on April 16th.  The Healthy YOUth students, Austin Sears, Michael English and Christian Gordon spoke to the park board about promoting positive role models for the children in the Zion-Benton communities, protecting the environment and promoting the health of the communities by reducing second-hand smoke. The students partnered smoke free parks with the purpose of Zion Park District which states, “Whether it’s by offering wholesome programs, activities and special events, by providing enjoyable facilities or by preserving the aesthetic beauty of our community, the sole purpose of Zion Park District is the enrichment of lives.”

The park board voted unanimously on May 21st to pass the ordinance and it will officially go into effect on Thursday, June 18th.  Park Commissioner Mike McDowell stated, “I am proud of the hard work and diligence of our ‘Healthy YOUth’ in presenting to the Park Board a compelling case for making our parks in Zion smoke free.  They are a fine example of how the Park District and the people of Zion can work together to bring about positive change in our community.”

The Healthy YOUth program would like to thank all of the support for smoke free parks from the Zion-Benton community organizations: Midwestern Regional Medical Center, Coalition for Healthy Communities, Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center, Tobacco Free Lake County, Drug Free Communities, REALITY Illinois and The Zion Park District.

For more information on smoke free parks, please contact the Drug Free Communities Program at (847) 731-2658 or dfc@lakecountyil.gov.  For information concerning Zion Park District, please contact 746-5500 or www.zionparkdistrict.com.