DeLand City Commission enacts smoking, vaping ban for parks

Smoking and vaping are now illegal in parks owned by the city of DeLand.

DeLand City Commissioners voted swiftly and unanimously Monday to enact the ban, which does not include unfiltered cigars because of a state law pre-emption. It also excludes Pioneer Park, which is in the heart of downtown.

Officials have said their goal is to keep young people and others away from smoke. The idea for the law came from issues with people smoking at Little League games and other settings, officials said.

"It's something we've discussed for a long time," Commissioner Charles Paiva said.

The city's parks include, among others, Earl Brown Park, Painter's Pond and Candlelight Oaks.

The city plans to craft penalties for violations. Mayor Chris Cloudman said in a previous interview that the point isn't to fine people but to educate them.

Parks and Recreation Director Rick Hall said the city will post signs at parks to warn people of the law change.

A state law change in 2022 allowed smoking in public parks to be regulated.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Smoking and vaping banned in DeLand city owned parks