New York City is considering banning smoking in public parks and beaches as part of a multi-pronged plan to make New Yorkers healthier, the health commissioner announced today.
“We don’t think children, parents when they’re standing at soccer games should have to be breathing in smoke from the person next to them,” Commissioner Thomas Farley said after unveiling the city’s plan. “We don’t think our children should have to be watching someone smoke.”
Farley said since the indoor smoking ban instituted in 2003 has been successful, so the city wants to expand the effort through either legislation or a simple change in policy with the Parks Department.
Parks could not be reached for comment.
Other plans in the “Take Care New York 2012” released yesterday include advocating for lower sodium consumption, encouraging public health insurance carriers to do more preventive care and reminding residents to exercise more.
Farely said the department does not know how much the 10-pronged plan will cost.