NORWICH – At the City of Norwich Joint Meeting of the Public Safety/Public Works and Finance/Personnel Committees on September 6, Coordinator of Tobacco-Free Cortland, Chenango, and Tompkins Counties Rose Walsh presented a case for Norwich to adopt a tobacco-free park policy. The Common Council made a motion to adopt the policy on Tuesday, September 20, by a vote of six – zero.

In October 2013, New York State passed a public health law that prohibits smoking in playground areas during certain times. As part of Walsh’s presentation, she provided evidence of excessive tobacco litter in the South Broad Street and Kiwanis Parks. Walsh also visited the skate park on Borden Avenue, but she said that tobacco litter was not nearly as evident there, likely because of the presence of anti-smoking signs.

In her two hour visit, Walsh was able to procure a petition of 50 signatures from City residents in support of making parks in Norwich tobacco-free. Walsh said that should the city adopt an anti-tobacco policy in parks and erect signs that prohibit smoking, the tobacco littering issue would be solved.