Town parks adopt tobacco-free policy
The Town of Wytheville Parks and Recreation has committed to making its parklands 100 percent tobacco- and vape-free by adopting a voluntary policy encouraging residents and visitors to refrain from using tobacco and vape products in its parks.
This commitment was initiated by Y Street, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth's (VFHY) statewide youth-led program. VFHY and Y Street members work through their campaign, Share The Air, to ensure that Virginians have equitable access to clean, healthier outdoor spaces.
Park Director Joshua Sharitz and Assistant Park Director Crystal Hylton collaborated with Y Street High School students to explore how adopting a voluntary policy could enhance the town’s iconic parks, such as Withers Park, and improve the overall experience for residents. The town strives to create safe, healthy, and dedicated spaces where children and adults can be active, relax, and gather outdoors. For this reason, the town and county school board supported partnering with Share The Air, joining other localities that have adopted voluntary tobacco-free outdoor policies. “At the Town of Wytheville Parks and Recreation Department, we want to do all that we can to encourage our kiddos, teens, and adults to live their best and most active lives. Encouraging everyone to reduce or eliminate unhealthy habits is a great place to start. We are so excited to be a part of the program,” says Joshua Sharitz.
The policy is expected to have a positive impact, reducing tobacco and vape litter, lowering residents' exposure to secondhand smoke and vape aerosol, and providing positive role modeling for youth who use the town’s parks.
As part of its partnership with Share The Air, the Town of Wytheville Parks and Recreation will receive free tobacco-free signage to encourage residents and visitors to support its efforts to maintain a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all to enjoy.
