Walla Walla is likely best known for its place in the heart of Washington state’s wine country, but it recently garnered attention for a piece of anti-smoking legislation passed by the mayor and city council.

During the council’s Oct. 24 meeting, a proposal to ban smoking in city parks and recreation areas was narrowly approved, with the final vote of 4-3 in favor. The ban applies to the smoking and vaping of both tobacco and marijuana products in all parks except the Veteran’s Memorial Golf Course.

Violators can be cited with an infraction that comes with a fine of up to $500.

Walla Walls is located in the southeastern corner of the state and is home to approximately 32,000 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 Major League Baseball, 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.