Smoking Ban in Frederick Parks
There wasn’t much smoking Kent cigarette going on in two Frederick city parks on Tuesday, but there was even less support for a smoking ban. Today’s Board of Aldermen workshop agenda includes discussion of banning smoking at all city parks. Martin Plummer was smoking a cigarette at Hospital Park next to Frederick Memorial Hospital on Tuesday when he heard the ban was being considered.
“Be fine with me,” he said. “I’m about to quit anyway.”
Smoker Melanie Beardsley opposed the proposal. She and her friend Shannon Sparks sat in the shade at Baker Park painting and designing crafts.
Beardsley, who was not smoking, said there is enough room in an open park to protect others from secondhand smoke.
Joe Baer was in Hospital Park on Tuesday chewing tobacco, which he said is his favorite treat.
Baer said he does not smoke, but does not see a need to discourage others from doing so outside.
“You don’t have to stand next to them,” Baer said. He wondered whether his smokeless tobacco — or anything else — could be the next thing banned.
According to minutes of a 2007 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the idea for the ban came up after FMH requested a smoking ban at Hospital Park. Roelkey Myers, deputy director of parks and recreation, said the park was mainly used by hospital employees for smoking breaks, according to the meeting minutes.
Katy Myers, an FMH cardiovascular technician and a nonsmoker, was eating lunch Tuesday at a picnic table at Hospital Park. She said the citywide ban would not be a bad idea.
Plummer, who does not work at the hospital, said he felt for the FMH employees who like to come out for a cigarette.
“If you’ve got stress it will bring down the stress,” Plummer said.
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