Smoking ban approved for all Seattle parks, effective July 1

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners on Thursday night approved a smoking ban for all parks in the city.

The ban will take effect July 1.

Mayor Ed Murray's administration had asked the park commissioners to approve a new rule to prohibit smoking in all public parks in Seattle.

The new rule would go farther than the city's current ban, which prohibits smoking, chewing or other tobacco use only within 25 feet of other park patrons and in play areas, beaches or playgrounds.

Breaking the new rule would result in a warning, followed by possible park exclusion for repeated violations.