In a close vote Tuesday, councillors voted to ban cannabis, once it becomes legal, and tobacco products from about 600 city parks.
The 7-6 vote went in favour of more conservative restrictions, which will make it illegal for Edmontonians to smoke in city spaces like Churchill Square, Fort Edmonton Park and Hawrelak Park.
The ban includes: playgrounds, sports fields, skate and bicycle parks, outdoor theatres, outdoor pools or water spray parks, seasonal skating rinks, off-leash areas, and city-owned golf courses.
Smoking will also be prohibited within 10 metres of doorways and windows.
These guidelines will also be extended to tobacco products.
“The best advice we’ve received is start restrictive and ease restrictions over time based on experience rather than start overly permissive and then people become accustomed to things and take things away,” mayor Don Iveson said.
With files from Nicole Weisberg
