1. Tobacco-Free Parks in Minnesota: A Success Story Christina Thill, Minnesota Department of Health Brittany McFadden, Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Liz Klein, University of Minnesota Karen Zeleznak, City of Bloomington, MN Paula Pentel, City of Golden Valley, MN 2007 National Conference on Tobacco or Health Minneapolis, Minnesota October 24, 2007

2. Objectives Understand how tobacco-free park and recreation policies are a successful youth tobacco prevention strategy in Minnesota. Identify successful local strategies used in Minnesota communities for passing comprehensive tobacco-free park and recreation ordinances. Learn the latest research focusing on public and park director’s opinions on tobacco-free park policies.

3. Evidence Supporting Our Recommendations The Surgeon General’s Report (1994) and CDC recommend that communities adopt smoke-free policies as a strategy to prevent youth smoking The Minnesota Department of Health supports locally driven efforts to create tobacco-free environments and change community norms These are important strategies for decreasing youth smoking rates

4. Minnesota Department of Health Funding Beginning in 2001, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) awarded a statewide grant and local grants to focus on creating tobacco-free environments. The adoption of over 100 tobacco-free park and recreation policies in Minnesota is due to our statewide grantee providing technical assistance to local park and recreation departments, local coalitions and city and county governments.

5. Minnesota Department of Health Funding From 2001-2006, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) funded Tobacco Free Youth Recreation (TFYR) to provide technical assistance and materials to MDH grantees and other advocates working on tobacco-free park and recreation policy initiatives in Minnesota TFYR is the Minnesota expert on tobacco-free park policies

6. Minnesota: A State for Recreation 72 state parks and recreation areas and several National Parks 8.5 million visitors a year 12,000 lakes (1,560 public water access sites) Over 450 golf courses 56 rail trails totaling 1,500 miles 1,100 total miles of state trails 15,000 miles of snowmobile trails

7. Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation 2 staff: program director and community outreach coordinator Annual budget: $150,000 Current goal: increase the # of tobacco-free outdoor recreation areas Shifted from a statewide technical assistance role to on the Twin Cities metro area

8. Why are MN communities working on park policies? Help change social norms about tobacco use Promote positive role modeling Ensure that participants and spectators are not exposed to secondhand smoke Reduce harmful cigarette litter The public supports these policies Involve youth and community members in advocacy

9. Role Modeling & Social Norms The more places that are tobacco free, the less opportunity youth have to observe tobacco use behavior Since recreational activities become places where young people develop attitudes and make lifestyle choices, adults involved in these activities are role models in the eyes of youth and influence youth by the example they set Tobacco use is promoted to youth as acceptable when it is used by these role models in any recreational setting

10. Secondhand Smoke Exposure Outdoors People can be exposed to secondhand smoke levels that can be as high as those found indoors –Repace, J. (2005). “Measurements of Outdoor Air Pollution from Secondhand Smoke on the UMBC Campus.” www.repace.com –Klepeis NE, Ott WR, Switzer P. (May 2007). “Real-Time Measurements of Outdoor Tobacco Smoke Particles.” Journal of Air & Waste Management Association. Vol. 57. The risk of secondhand smoke exposure outdoors appears to be related to both dosage and proximity to the source: a person in close proximity to the source of the secondhand smoke or a person in an area with a high concentration of secondhand smoke would be most likely to be at risk in outdoor settings.

11. Cigarette Litter: A Key Concern Discarded cigarettes: –Pollute the land and water –Risk of ingestion by toddlers, pets, fish, and birds –Diminishes beauty of parks and beaches –Require add’l expenses to clean up Cigarettes are the most littered item in the world Cigarette filters, tips, and packaging were #1 source of litter on MN beaches during the 2005 Coastal Cleanup –62% of total items collected (35% = U.S. avg.) –www.coastalcleanup.org City officials interested in reducing park litter

12. Litter Clean-Up

13. Little information has been published on support, attitudes, and current park policies Data were collected by the School of Public Health to determine attitudes and support for policies to restrict tobacco use in park environments U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

14. Study 1 – Survey of a stratified sample of Minnesota residents –Mail survey of 2,400 individuals –Questions on awareness, attitudes Study 2 - Survey of park directors within the 200 largest cities in MN –Phone survey of park directors/administrators –Questions on experiences, attitudes, support U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

15. Minnesotans support tobacco-free park policies Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study carried out by the University of Minnesota in summer of 2004 –Survey mailed to 2,400 adults from metro and greater MN –1,500 surveys returned (68% response) Results: –70% of Minnesota adults support tobacco-free park and recreation areas –66% of golfers support these policies –73% of families with children support these policies

16. Minnesota park directors’ observations after implementing policies: 88% reported no change in park usage (no loss of park users) 71% reported less smoking in parks 58% reported cleaner park areas U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

17. Communities without policies have enforcement concerns Of the MN Park Directors surveyed: 73% concerned about whether there should be penalties 90% concerned about enforcement 49% concerned with lack public of interest U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

18. Enforcement concerns are unfounded where policies are in place Of the MN Park Directors surveyed: 26% reported compliance issues 24% reported staff concerns about enforcement 39% reported difficulty monitoring areas covered by the policy U of MN Tobacco-Free Park & Recreation Study

19. Park and Recreation Areas Typically Covered by Policies City- or county-owned outdoor recreational areas –Playgrounds, athletic fields, and skateboard parks –Parks, trails, and open space –Beaches and outdoor pools –Entrances to ice arenas and community centers –Golf courses Range of policy coverage –During youth events=least comprehensive –Some facilities covered all of the time=mid-range coverage –All facilities covered all of the time=most comprehensive Minnesota trend is toward comprehensive “all property” policies for city- and county-owned park areas

20. TFYR’s Policy Advocacy Handbook Developed in 2002 Focuses on park policies Available online: www.ansrmn.org/TFYR0 3Resources.htm

21. Involving Youth Advocates Hands-on project that usually gets positive results Youth are natural advocates since they are the regular park users Youth gain experience in local government and public speaking Opportunity to gain volunteer hours/improve college applications

22. TFYR’s Policy Advocacy Guide for Youth Advocates Developed in 2003 and revised in 2007 Focuses on park policies

23. Five Major Steps for Success 1.Assess your community 2.Create your policy request 3.Build support for your policy 4.Plan your presentation 5.Thank & Promote!

24. TFYR Publicity Materials Signs Ads Display Postcards Banners TV commercial Posters

25. TFYR Successes 106 policies in six years! Created a domino effect Signs are becoming recognizable from community to community More communities are considering policies Unique niche of policy work

26. Minnesota Communities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies January 2003

27. Minnesota Communities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies February 2004

28. Minnesota Communities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies May 2005

29. Minnesota Communities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies May 2006

30. Minnesota Communities with Tobacco-Free Park Policies January 2007

33. Case Study: Bloomington, MN

34. Case Study: Golden Valley, MN

35. TV Commercial Will air in early 2008 in select cable zones in Twin Cities metro area Purpose is to raise support for tobacco-free parks in select communities

36. Customized Ads

39. Thank You Postcard

40. Lessons Learned: Statewide Perspective Justifying outdoor policy work can be difficult, but it is getting easier State level funding and support is needed More research is needed on the health effects of secondhand smoke outdoors Evaluation is key (U of MN survey) Globally, communities are working on theses policies, which supports the growing trend

41. Lessons Learned from Local Advocates Community organizing is hard work! Community coalition members are essential Community politics play an important role Find a champion inside City Hall Know how the policy makers will vote Entire process can take from 3 to 12 months Policies do not always pass easily, but you can make a difference through tobacco-free parks

42. Contact Information Brittany McFadden Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation bhm@ansrmn.org Christina Thill Minnesota Department of Health christina.thill@health.state.mn.us

43. Contact Information Liz Klein University of Minnesota klei0289@umn.edu Karen Zeleznak City of Bloomington, MN kzeleznak@ci.bloomington.mn.us Paula Pentel City of Golden Valley, MN PPentel@ci.golden-valley.mn.us