Springfield Park District officials are hoping peer pressure will be the answer to stop people smoking near playgrounds.
Park District Director Derek Harms says a grant from the state allowed the district to erect signs near playgrounds reminding people that they cannot smoke by the swingsets and slides.
“We are just targeting our playgrounds; the spots where there is a large congregation of kids. We just want to have a safe place and clean air and let them to be able to recreate and enjoy our park systems, ” says Harms.
Harms thinks fellow parents will be able to discourage others from smoking around their kids but has not ruled out asking the city for an ordinance to make the no-smoking areas legally binding in the future.