Members of Youth for Change told the Richland County Parks Committee they want county parks to be tobacco‑free, citing local survey data and examples from nearby municipalities.

"We're here because we believe county part should be tobacco free," said Bridal, representing Youth for Change, introducing a community survey of 299 respondents that organizers said showed roughly 75% support for tobacco‑free parks and 73% saying secondhand smoke and aerosol are harmful. Mason Meyer, also with Youth for Change, told the committee 38% of survey respondents reported avoiding parks because of tobacco use and said visible smoking and vaping normalizes use among young people.

Alex Herons described a recent city process in which partners such as Richland Hospital and Richland County Public Health helped the city adopt a tobacco‑free parks policy in 2025; presenters said enforcement in other communities mostly relied on signage and social norms and produced few post‑adoption problems.

Committee members discussed how best to adopt similar language. Speaker 1 and others recommended folding tobacco prohibitions into an ongoing parks ordinance rewrite to avoid multiple documents. Speaker 3 moved and Speaker 4 seconded a motion to include a prohibition on smoking, vaping and smokeless tobacco in all county parks as part of the parks ordinance package; the committee approved the inclusion and discussed making tobacco‑free signs a standalone item so they are visible and not lost among other rule changes. Speaker 2 relayed that the sheriff's office does not foresee enforcement problems.

The committee asked the Youth for Change representatives to present to the full county board when the item advances; presenters offered to help with signage and community education. The ordinance language and signage plans will be drafted as part of the larger parks ordinance rewrite and returned to Public Works and the county board for final action.