Tobacco Free Parks

Tobacco Free For Me!

Parks should be a safe and healthy space for individuals, families, children and pets to gather, and for everyone to work toward their wellness goals. Tobacco is the number one source of preventable death and disease in our country, and does not contribute to this vision.

Why tobacco-free parks?

  • Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Change the cultural norm for younger generations.
  • Eliminate unsightly litter from tobacco butts and chew.

No Ifs, Ands or Butts

Cigarette litter is not only unsightly but dangerous, especially to young children and animals that can ingest them, leading to tobacco poisoning. This litter can also disrupt the natural balance of our park ecosystems by washing into local waterways.

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on small children who had ingested cigarette butts concluded that one-third of them exhibited symptoms of illness such as spontaneous vomiting, nausea, lethargy and gagging. Cigarette butts leach toxins into the water and kill or injure various forms of wildlife. In addition, the plastic parts of cigarette butts can be ingested by fish, birds, whales and other marine animals.

The RiverFront parks in downtown Omaha are tobacco free. Why doesn’t the City of Omaha have a tobacco-free parks policy?

The RiverFront, which encompasses three parks in downtown Omaha — Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis & Clark Landing — offers 72 acres of beautiful green space for families, children and everyone in our community to enjoy.

The parks are managed by the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority, which has implemented a park-wide, tobacco-free policy. This means the parks are free of cigarettes, vaping devices and other tobacco products, allowing all park visitors to enjoy a clean, healthy experience without the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, cigarette butts and other tobacco litter. Such litter poses a threat to humans, wildlife and plants and can adversely affect water and air quality.

The City of Omaha, meanwhile, has yet to implement a tobacco-free parks policy for its 250-plus parks, which encompass 11,000 acres of parkland and welcome tens of thousands of visitors each year. MOTAC has advocated for a citywide tobacco-free parks policy and continues to champion this necessary step to protect our greenspaces. Learn more about this important initiative and get involved using the information on this webpage.

How You Can Help

  1. Contact your local City Councilperson and express your interest in a Tobacco-Free Parks Policy.
  2. Sign our endorsement form.
  3. Create a photo journal of tobacco litter at your favorite parks and recreation spots, and send it to info@motac.org listing the date and location, as well as your first/last name and zip code, to help your City Councilperson understand the importance of a clean, neat, healthy and safe tobacco-free park!
  4. Send a “Letter to the Editor” asking for support of tobacco-free parks.
  5. Participate in a MOTAC-sponsored park clean-up, or organize your own with friends and family, faith group, organization or workplace.
  6. Ask friends, family and others not to use tobacco products around you, your family, or your home.
  7. Share posts from our MOTAC social media to help keep everyone informed of the latest tobacco news, studies, education, etc.
Programa de radio sobre “parques libres de tabaco”

(Courtesy LOBO 97.7FM)