The city of Tecumseh, Mich. will soon have a smoking ban for its parks and recreation areas, as the city council approved a new ban that will roll out in two phases beginning on July 1.
The new ban applies to beaches, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports or athletic fields, bleachers, walking paths, gardens, hiking trails, bike paths and dog parks. However, paved public sidewalks surrounding these areas will not be subject to the ban, nor will any designated smoking areas.
It will be implemented first at the city’s Cal Zorn Park, which is the city’s biggest and most used park. The rest of the parks system will be subject to the ban as of Jan. 1, 2018. The city says that the staggered rollout will allow adequate time to generate public awareness and inform park users about the new policy.
The new ban doesn’t have a provision for a monetary fine for violators, saying however that any person who violates the policy shall be subjected to a warning, and may be asked to leave the park or recreation area.
Tecumseh is located just over 60 miles southwest of Detroit and home to approximately 6,500 residents.