Concerns rise over Forest Preserve smoking ban

Kevin Beese
Currently, smoking is banned inside Forest Preserve buildings per state law, in portions of Brookfield Zoo and at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Currently, smoking is banned inside Forest Preserve buildings per state law, in portions of Brookfield Zoo and at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Red flags are being raised as residents using Cook County forest preserves could soon have targets on their backs, potentially being hit with fines when all they want is to enjoy the open spaces.

Proposals to ban smoking and enforce parking restrictions in county preserves are raising concerns with a civic group linked to the Forest Preserve District.

“I don’t think that is what this administration is looking for,” said Benjamin Cox, president and CEO of Friends of the Forest Preserves.

Cox said many residents were out at the Swallow Cliff stairs in Palos Park a few weeks ago enjoying the nice weather. There were so many visitors that parking spots were all filled and guests began parking in non-designated spots. He said a lot of tickets were given out.

“Encourage folks to come out and then have them get tickets because there is not room for them to be there?” he asked.

Cox was equally concerned about the proposed smoking ban.

“It just seems that a lot of people who use the picnic groves or might be in the parking lot or other facilities would just have a big target for a police force that is very intent on enforcing laws,” Cox said, “Hopefully, there is some sort of middle ground that we can have a provision for non-smoking — or encouraging non-smoking — but maybe not make it a ticket-able offense.”

Cox said that officers might be more prone now to patrol parking lots and picnic groves looking for smokers and parking scofflaws than patrolling the woods where more serious incidents can occur.

He said potential problems hinge on where sheriff’s deputies focus their time and energy.

“I am not sure how you tell an officer not to enforce the law, but it appears that there is some leeway there,” Cox said.

He said in the Swallow Cliff example instead of writing tickets maybe officers could have asked people to move their cars or directed them where to park.

County Forest Preserve commissioners deferred taking action on the smoking ban at their meeting Wednesday.

Joel Africk, president and CEO of Respiratory Health Association in Chicago, urged the Forest Preserve’s Legislative Committee to adopt the smoke-free policy for the district’s more than 69,000 acres.

Currently, smoking is banned inside Forest Preserve buildings per state law, in portions of Brookfield Zoo and at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

“A comprehensive smoke-free ordinance for Cook County Forest Preserve will take and broaden the protection currently in place at the garden to the entire land under your protection,” Africk said. “The policy would address the dangers of secondhand smoke for the people who make up the 40 million visitors a year to the Forest Preserve and it is consistent with the mission to preserve lands in their natural state for the education, pleasure and recreation of the public.”

He noted the Chicago Park District already has a smoke-free policy in place for its parks.