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Editor’s Note: This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what’s going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and “wander around” the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions, and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues and ask the leaders among the readership to share their knowledge and experiences.
In the November issue of PRB, I informed readers of an eastern state where a county commission was advocating a proposal to create smoke-free indoor and outdoor facilities and parks.
The topic had not been considered for a final decision by the board of commissioners at the time of that writing (August 2010). In short, the final decision has the hard-working staff and volunteers there singing the “Public Recreator Blues.”
The Road To Nowhere
The county already had smoke-free indoor spaces, but the new proposal was to regulate open outdoor venues, such as trails, general-use parks, golf courses, etc. on the several thousand acres of park land. The committee wanted to prohibit smoking within 50 feet of any entrance or exit, in any county-owned, leased or rented vehicle, and reaffirmed no smoking on playgrounds. It also added sports fields and several sports and recreation facilities, including common areas, such as bleachers, restrooms, concessions, etc.
