Parsons to talk about smoke-free park areas

Parsons city commissioners on Monday evening again will discuss making most of the parks smoke-free.

The commissioners have talked about smoke-free parks for the last several weeks after Commissioner Bill Hogelin introduced the idea about a year ago.

The commission at first wanted to designate a certain distance around play equipment as smoke-free areas, but Parsons Police Chief Jason Sharp said it would be easier to enforce an ordinance that created areas where smoking would be permitted.

In their last regular meeting and the work session preceding it, the commissioners informally agreed to create a couple of smoking sections in Forest Park as well as a smoking section in each of the smaller parks that have playgrounds. Not all of the commissioners were present for both of those meetings, however.

(Read more: Parsons Sun)