Olympia City Council bans smoking, vaping in parks

OLYMPIA – Smoking and vaping at all Olympia public parks will be prohibited starting in 2018.

The Olympian reported the Olympia City Council approved the proposal Tuesday to take effect in January 2018.

Associate Parks Director Jonathan Turlove says there are no plans to issue civil infractions or to trespass people from parks.

Plans include installing signs to encourage park users to stop smoking or vaping. Park rangers and staff would also ask smokers to stop.

The city council passed a resolution in 2013 urging people not to smoke near park playgrounds, but stopped short of a full smoking ban for parks.

Olympia’s ban does not include chewing tobacco. State law already prohibits the smoking of marijuana in public places.