The Seattle Parks and Recreation is instigating a new Code of Conduct that takes effect today, Thursday, April 1.

It includes provisions from Washington state law, from Seattle City ordinance, from already-adopted administrative rules, and some new provisions. Violation of these rules can result in exclusion from a park or a group of parks. New prohibited behaviors include:

• Possession of glass containers at athletic fields, beaches, or children’s playgrounds;
• Smoking, chewing, or other tobacco use within 25 feet of other park patrons and or at play areas, beaches, playgrounds, and picnic areas;
• Conduct that poses a risk of harm to any person or property; and
• Possession of explosives, acid, or any other article or material capable of causing serious harm to others.

By prohibiting smoking in some parks, Seattle Parks join many other cities in Washington state and around the country that are making smoking unacceptable in public places. It is consistent with Seattle Parks and Recreation’s mission to provide healthy, safe places for people to congregate, and it sends a message to Seattle’s youth that the norm is for public places to be smoke-free.

Back in February Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher tried to ban smoking and tobacco use in parks entirely, but when faced with public backlash, decided to amend his decision and soften the rule to within 25 feet of park patrons and play areas. What do you think of the amended policy and new code of conduct, Queen Anne?

After a lot of public backlash upon the announcement of a smoking ban in all city parks on Wednesday, February 17, Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher yesterday decided to amend his decision, relaxing the rules that would have banned smoking in parks effective April 1, 2010.

The Board of Park Commissioners recommended this language in the Code of Conduct: “Smoking, chewing, or other tobacco use is banned within 25 feet of other park patrons and in play areas, beaches, or playgrounds.”

“Based on the input from the public that followed my initial decision,” Gallagher said, “I have decided that a gradual approach to a smoking ban is reasonable.”

This comes after the rule banning firearms in Seattle parks was tossed out last week by King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer, who said the city cannot pre-empt state law.  Our news partners at the Seattle Times reports that the city will now be required to remove the 116 metal signs in city parks that read “FIREARMS PROHIBITED.”

In response to the ruling, Mayor Mike McGinn expressed his disappointment, stating, “Cities should have the right to restrict guns in playground, pools and community centers where children are present…It’s time for the state Legislature to change that law.” Read more about the gun ban ruling here.

Yesterday, Wednesday, February 17, Parks Superintendent Timothy Gallagher announced that he would go ahead with a ban on smoking in all public parks in the city, despite disagreement from the Board of Park Commissioners.

According to Gallagher, the decision was centered around public health, citing the dangers of second hand smoke. Under the new smoking ban, which will go into effect on Thursday, April 1, violators could be banned from city parks for anywhere from one day for first-time offenders, to up to a year. Enforcement will be handled on a complaint basis.

Though many agree with Gallagher’s notion of protecting against second hand smoke, especially in public areas where there are often children, others say this latest smoking ban is severely limiting where they can smoke. See KING5′s video below for more.

What do you think Queen Anne? Are you for or against the smoking ban in public parks?