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Youth Alliance students ask district to fund no‑smoking signs in parks using settlement money
Summary
Heidi Williams and students from the Watertown Youth Alliance told the school board they found more than 300 cigarette butts in a 30‑minute walk through Thompson Park and formally requested a portion of the January 2026 Jewel Labs settlement funds be used to buy no‑smoking signage for all 11 city playgrounds.
Heidi Williams, who represents the Watertown Youth Alliance of Jefferson County, told the Watertown City School District Board on June 1 that students have been collecting data to document smoking and vaping in local parks and are asking the city and district to help reduce exposure for children.
"In just 30 minutes of walking around Thompson Park, we found over 300 cigarette butts," seventh‑grader William Thompson told the board, describing how many of the butts were found near playgrounds and picnic areas. The students said city ordinance already bans smoking within 100 feet of playgrounds but that the rule is posted only on the city's website and not on park signage, so most visitors are unaware of it.
The Youth Alliance requested that a portion of settlement funds Jefferson County received in January 2026 from a lawsuit against Jewel Labs be used to purchase and install clearly visible no‑smoking/no‑vaping signs at all 11 city playgrounds. The group said they coordinated with public health, parks and recreation and Pivot and showed the board a pilot sign installed at Thompson Park; the mayor awarded a ceremonial certificate recognizing the students' work.
Supporters framed the request as both an environmental clean‑up and a public‑health measure. Students and presenters emphasized protecting children with asthma and discouraging normalization of smoking and vaping among youth. Heidi Williams asked the board and district staff to consider the proposal and the students encouraged officials to explore using the settlement funds to cover sign purchases.
Board members and Superintendent Dr. Larry Schmiedel praised the students for their civic engagement and described past collaboration—such as a prom safety letter prepared with students—as an example of youth‑led influence on community policies. No formal board vote on funding the signs was recorded during the meeting.
What happens next: the Youth Alliance asked district and city partners to evaluate the request and potential use of settlement funds; the board took the matter under advisement during the meeting.
