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LOS ANGELES -- The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to draft an ordinance that would limit or ban smoking at county parks
and golf courses.
If approved, the ordinance will affect the county's 144 parks, which receive 20 million visitors annually.
These parks include 19 golf courses -- the largest municipal golf system in the nation.
The action comes on the heels of a recent 29-page report by the county Department of Parks and Recreation recommending the county ban smoking at community parks and regional parks, natural areas and sanctuaries, arboretum and botanical gardens and equestrian parks, the Daily News reported.
The department also recommended the county prohibit smoking in facilities run by lease operators, except for designated smoke areas. For golf courses, this would include driving ranges, putting and pitching greens, within 20 feet of buildings and in areas of high fire risk. Golfers could smoke on the course itself, unless it's a high fire zone.
The Daily News reported that some course operators told county officials there were concerns that a total smoking ban would effect revenues. During film productions at county parks, actors would still be allowed to smoke.
In 2007, the city of Los Angeles enacted a smoke-free parks policy following a fire at Griffith Park started by a cigarette. But smoking is permitted on city golf courses, except for the four courses in Griffith Park where smoking is only allowed in designated areas and not in all areas of the course.
San Francisco is the only jurisdiction in the state with a complete smoke-free policy prohibiting smoking on all its golf courses.
If approved, the ordinance will affect the county's 144 parks, which receive 20 million visitors annually.
These parks include 19 golf courses -- the largest municipal golf system in the nation.
The action comes on the heels of a recent 29-page report by the county Department of Parks and Recreation recommending the county ban smoking at community parks and regional parks, natural areas and sanctuaries, arboretum and botanical gardens and equestrian parks, the Daily News reported.
The department also recommended the county prohibit smoking in facilities run by lease operators, except for designated smoke areas. For golf courses, this would include driving ranges, putting and pitching greens, within 20 feet of buildings and in areas of high fire risk. Golfers could smoke on the course itself, unless it's a high fire zone.
The Daily News reported that some course operators told county officials there were concerns that a total smoking ban would effect revenues. During film productions at county parks, actors would still be allowed to smoke.
In 2007, the city of Los Angeles enacted a smoke-free parks policy following a fire at Griffith Park started by a cigarette. But smoking is permitted on city golf courses, except for the four courses in Griffith Park where smoking is only allowed in designated areas and not in all areas of the course.
San Francisco is the only jurisdiction in the state with a complete smoke-free policy prohibiting smoking on all its golf courses.
