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Chattanooga parks may go smoke-free

68 views · Published 15 August 2013 · 1:04 · Indexed 10 November 2026

Channel: chattanooga times free press · 2013 · News & Politics

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If you're a smoker you've undoubtedly noticed that the number of smoke-friendly restaurants, festivals, and workplaces in the Chattanooga area has been shrinking.

Still, smokers still have the great outdoors: smoking is permitted in Chattanooga parks and public spaces.

But for how long?

The number of outdoor smoking bans in the U.S. has nearly doubled in the past five years, and more than 800 cities have banned smoking in parks.

Now Tobacco-Free Chattanooga says it would like to see all public parks smoke free, and an ordinance presented to the city council.

Councilman Chris Anderson says a public smoking ban is something he believes the city has been progressing toward.

And the Health Department's tobacco prevention coordinator says she'd like to see smoke-free areas everywhere in the city.
Right now, 20 percent of people in Hamilton County smoke. That's slightly below the state average and slightly above the national average.

Researchers say there's not clear medical evidence that cigarette smoke outdoors can harm people walking by. But advocates say the bans help keep the streets clean and parents happy.

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