Ban smoking at Edmonton playgrounds: survey

A vast majority of Edmonton residents want the city to regulate smoking at playgrounds and sports fields, concludes a city survey.

The survey indicates 80 per cent of people would like the city to step in and restrict smoking at playgrounds and spray parks.

Seven of 10 people would like to see smoking banned on outdoor sport fields and skating rinks when children are playing.  

Half of the survey respondents would like to see smoking banned altogether on city fields, trails and parks.

Nevertheless the survey results don't mean a bylaw is necessary, said Coun. Kerry Diotte.

About 40 per cent of respondents indicated they would prefer an educational approach to keep parks smoke-free rather than enforcing a bylaw through fines, he said.

"I think everybody realizes they don't want to see adults smoking around children and it doesn't happen very much," he said. "But we don't need a nanny state bylaw to say thou shalt not, it's just not necessary at this time."

The survey consisted of 400 telephone interviews conducted from July 29 to Aug. 9 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9% at a confidence level of 95%.

The report will go to city council Sept. 27.