City of St. Augustine adopts smoking, vaping ban for city parks

Sheldon Gardner, St. Augustine Record
·1 min read
The city of St. Augustine has banned smoking and vaping at its parks.
The city of St. Augustine has banned smoking and vaping at its parks.

St. Augustine commissioners Monday unanimously passed a ban on vaping and smoking in city-owned and operated public parks, as well as the Willie Galimore Center public pool.

A change in Florida law opened the door for the city to prohibit smoking and vaping in any city-owned public park, City Attorney Isabelle Lopez said.

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People who smoke in public city parks could face a fine of up to $100 per violation. As with other ordinances, this one goes into effect 10 days after passage.

The Plaza de la Constitucion is included. Community gardens are not included because they are controlled separately from the city, Lopez said. The city has several public parks:

  • Davenport Park at San Carlos and San Marco avenues;

  • Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park and Eddie Vickers Park in Lincolnville;

  • Hamilton Upchurch Neighborhood Park on Red Cox Drive and Anastasia Boulevard;

  • Joe Pomar Jr. Park on Masters Drive;

  • Lighthouse Park and J. Edward "Red" Cox Recreation Facility near the lighthouse;

  • Project SWING near the city parking garage;

  • Twine Park at Riberia and Lovett streets;

  • Zora Neale Hurston Memorial Park at one corner of King Street and U.S. 1.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Smoking, vaping gets banned in city of St. Augustine parks