Boston Park Smoking Ban Public Health Campaign

Lukas Knight filed this request with the Parks & Recreation of Boston, MA.
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Completed

Communications

From: Lukas Knight

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, ยง10, I hereby request the following records:

Documents describing the plan of action for the 2013-2014 implementation of a city-wide ban on smoking in public parks, specifically as they relate to the Boston park rangers intentions and ability to issue citations, total cost of advertising the change in policy, and estimates of hours of park ranger's time spent on enforcement.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Lukas Knight

From: Ryan Woods

To whom it may concern,

Attached is the text from Boston Parks Commission hearing on December 30,
2013 hearing. During this hearing, testimony was take on the smoking ban
in public parks and a vote took place. The Executive Director of the
Boston Public Health Commission at the time spoke about a plan of an
awareness campaign to let residents and visitors know of the newly passed
rule.

There is no documents citing Park Rangers intentions with this policy. The
Boston Park Rangers are the good will ambassadors to the park. They are on
patrol daily through the Emerald Necklace Parks. When on patrol they
answer questions, give directions and enforce park rules. The Boston Park
Rangers have issued 74 citations this calendar year in the Boston Common.
Boston Police are the main enforcement authority of the city and enforce
park rules.

No new signage was made for smoking in the parks. We spaces No Smoking
stickers in the available space on current existing park signs.

Thanks,
Ryan

*Ryan Woods*
*Director of External Affairs*
*Boston Parks and Recreation Department*
*1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd floor*
*Boston, MA 02118*
*(p) 617-961-3015*
*(c) 617-839-3741*
*(f) 617-635-3173*

*follow @BostonParksDept <https://twitter.com/BostonParksDept>*
*Like us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bostonparksdepartment>*

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