Marathon County Reminds Residents of Smoke Free Areas
Thursday, June 30th, 2022 -- 8:01 AM
As people head outdoors this summer to enjoy the many recreation opportunities the City of Wausau has to offer, the Marathon County Health Department and the Wausau/Marathon County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department are reminding area residents and guests that smoking is prohibited in public outdoor spaces located within the City of Wausau where signs are posted.
The City of Wausau adopted smoke free spaces in 2019 to ensure that all visitors, particularly the youngest, can congregate in a safe and healthy environment free of secondhand smoke.
Those enjoying outdoor spaces this summer are reminded to be mindful of posted signage in areas where smoking is prohibited. Outdoor spaces where smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of those areas include:
- Playgrounds,
- Sports fields and sports field seating areas,
- Swimming pools and all inside fenced areas surrounding swimming pools,
- And skateboarding facilities.
Additional outdoor areas that are smoke-free include:
- Within the fenced areas of tennis courts;
- Park areas temporarily posted as no smoking by the Director of the Parks Department during Parks Department sponsored events;
- And park areas temporarily posted as no smoking by the Director of the Parks Department during an approved Class I or II Special Event held in such park area and which is open to the public with no admission charge and for which no smoking has been requested by the event organizer or sponsor.
The negative health impacts of tobacco use do not stop with users. Secondhand smoke is known to be a carcinogen and there is no safe level of exposure, especially for children.
For more information on tobacco prevention and control efforts in Central Wisconsin, community members are encouraged to visit the Nicotine Prevention Alliance of Central Wisconsin website at http://centralwinicotinefree.org/.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.