Keeping parklands clean and welcoming for visitors is a top priority for parks and recreation departments. However, tobacco and e-cigarette use in these outdoor spaces is an ongoing issue that affects both visitors and department staff. Tobacco products are the most littered item in the nation, accounting for approximately 40% of all littered items[1]. Clean-up costs for these products are costly and time-consuming, costing the nation an estimated $11 billion annually[2]. Additionally, the nicotine in these products is toxic if consumed by wildlife, children or pets. Discarded products also pose a significant fire hazard as well. Lithium-ion batteries in e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products are known to spontaneously ignite and cause fires[3].
In Virginia, there is a call to action to encourage municipalities to create parklands that are completely free of tobacco and vape products. Y Street, an award-winning volunteer initiative for high school students by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, is at the forefront of this movement. They recognize the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment so that every Virginian has equitable access to healthy outdoor spaces. Y Street member and high school student from Tabb High School, Morgan Morris, believes that “Nothing beats the feeling of stepping into our parks – the fresh air, the vibrant colors, and the sense of peace. Our parks are where we can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find solace in nature. Whether that is enjoying the outdoors with friends and family or walking a pet! It is our responsibility to make sure our parks and recreational centers are pillars of health.”
Y Street is on a mission to create healthier outdoor environments for everyone in the commonwealth through its campaign, Share The Air. The campaign aims to limit tobacco and e-cigarette use in parklands by encouraging local governments and parks and recreation departments to implement tobacco-free outdoor policies. To achieve this, Y Street spreads awareness, mobilizes communities, and evaluates residents’ perceptions of tobacco and e-cigarette use in outdoor spaces.
York County has taken a step towards promoting a healthier outdoor environment by adopting the campaign’s voluntary tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free policy for the McReynolds Athletic Complex in Yorktown. The facility includes 13 athletic fields, 2 playgrounds, and a multi-purpose path for walking and jogging, among other amenities. The impact of the new policy is expected to reduce tobacco and vape litter and residents’ exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as promote positive role modeling for youth who visit McReynolds Athletic Complex. Alisha Mask, a senior at Tabb High School, shared that “For years, I used to play soccer at the McReynolds Athletic Complex, and my brother played football, so we spent a lot of time at the Complex. Seeing the McReynolds Athletic Complex adopt the Share The Air policy is amazing to me because now individuals will be able to be free from tobacco and e-cigarette adverse effects. The impact of this policy means to me that people will not have to worry about secondhand smoke when they are enjoying sports and other activities.”
This is an excellent example set by York County for other localities to follow, as they are the first locality in the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to partner with Share The Air. The Director of Community Services, Sheri Newcomb, shared, “Whether you are hitting a home run, scoring a goal, or exercising on the fitness trail at the McReynolds Athletic Complex, residents can now enjoy the fresh air by avoiding smoking and vaping at the sports complex.” York County received free tobacco-free signage as part of its partnership with the campaign to post as a reminder to visitors. The county aims to extend this policy to all its parklands in the near future.
Share The Air and Y Street are proud to assist Virginia’s parks and recreation departments in ensuring equitable access to recreational areas. York County joins the growing list of localities with tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free outdoor policies, becoming Share The Air’s 19th partner. Thanks to localities such as York County, over one million Virginians are protected and can enjoy a healthier outdoor environment. If your department wants to learn more and partner with the campaign, visit www.sharetheairva.com.
[1] Why are cigarettes the most littered item on earth? Truth Initiative (2018)
[2] Keep America Beautiful: Litter Research, Keep America Beautiful
[3] Harshman, J; Vojvodic, M; Rogers, A.D. Burns associated with e-cigarette batteries: A case series and literature review (2018) Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Blog post contributed by Tabatha Magobet, Y Street Program Supervisor.