A new ban on the use of all tobacco products has been announced for the parks of Elmhurst, Ill., after the city’s Park Board approved the plan at its most recent meeting.

The plan to implement the ban has been in the works since at least mid-March, when board members directed staff to create an amendment to existing rules and guidelines, as well as formulate a plan to enforce the new ban should it be approved. It also includes a ban on e-cigarettes and other nicotine products.

While the ban applies to all property in the park district, two exemptions were made: one for the Sugar Creek Golf Course, and another for paid rentals at Wilder Mansion. In a statement, the Park Board said that these two areas presented “unique enforcement challenges” and that since they are operated for a profit, there was concern that a ban might result in a loss of rentals and thus revenue.

The ban will go into effect on Nov. 16, 2017, which coincides with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, an event which encourages smokers to quit smoking. Once in effect, violators can face fines between $100 and $250.

Elmhurst is located about 18 miles west of downtown Chicago and home to just over 46,000 residents.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.