By Sara StrongLuverne is the first city in southwest Minnesota to ban tobacco use in public parks and recreational areas.Tuesday night the council voted to approve the policy initiated by Partners in Prevention, lead by Public Health Educator Paula Anderson and Luverne teacher Kari Lais. Anderson said, "We’re happy they went with a stricter policy. It shows they not only care about kids, but about adolescents, adults and the community in general."The council was considering a policy that simply discouraged tobacco use, but wouldn’t put up signs where it was prohibited, except during youth events.That, Anderson said, would have sent a mixed message, and would have almost encouraged people to smoke.She said, "If Luverne wants to be a leader in southwest Minnesota by implementing a tobacco-free youth recreation policy, we need to send a clearer, stronger message if it is going to have any impact."Anderson said that adults smoking during sporting events would have been a negative influence on children watching, and this policy prevents that.Partners in Prevention said the outdoor air doesn’t carry away the Class A carcinogens in cigarette smoke, as people would assume. (Class A carcinogens also include arsenic, mustard gas and asbestos.)Anderson said only 7.5 percent of Rock County residents smoke, so the rest shouldn’t be subject to their habit.The city will receive free signs designating areas as smoke-free, and the policy will be self-enforced. Other cities in Minnesota that have banned recreation area tobacco use are: Aitkin, Aurora, Austin, Baxter, Biwabik, Bloomington, Brainerd, Breckenridge, Buhl, Cohasset, Duluth, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Eveleth, Fayal Township, Golden Valley, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Hoyt Lakes, Mahtomedi, Maple Grove, Mountain Iron, New Brighton, Norwood Young America, Owatonna, Plymouth, Richfield, Rochester, Roseville, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Sartell, Savage, Spicer, Virginia, Willmar and Zimmerman.
