If you light up, you may be forced to pay up in Churchill Square.

As of Wednesday, anyone caught smoking in the large public gathering space in downtown Edmonton could face a $250 fine.

Councillors who supported the bylaw said in March that banning smoking would make Churchill Square more inviting and safe for children.

"I think it is a good idea because there are a lot of kids who come here," said Niko Wilson who often sits in the square.

"It is a good idea in general to have at least one area that is not a smoking area," she said. "Already I have noticed there are less butts in the time I have been here."

The decision to make Churchill Square smoke-free was a contentious one, barely passing in council chambers in March with a 7-6 vote. Mayor Don Iveson voted in favour of the ban. Those opposed were concerned about enforcement and driving vulnerable people off the square.

Signs telling visitors in the square to butt out went up on Wednesday and bylaw officers vow they will not be heavy-handed in how they enforce the new law.

"We're making sure we share what's changed with them before we're looking at enforcement," said Rico Page, security superintendent with Edmonton Transit.

There will also be an unofficial 'grace period' before $250 fines are given out.

Brad Sweeney, a half-a-pack-a-day smoker, was walking through the square on Wednesday, cigarettes tucked inside his backpack. He said he had no idea the law was in place.

"They already took away smoking from bars and restaurants, so it's kind of like they are taking away our freedom a little bit," he said, adding the ban will at least help clean up the cigarette butts littering the ground in the square.

On Wednesday bylaw officers spoke to just a few people, asking them to butt out. Page said everyone cooperated.

In October 2014, when the issue was before a council committee, Coun. Michael Oshry asked administration for more information about banning smoking at all city-owned outdoor facilities. That conversation is expected to take place at city hall on April 20.

Currently, smoking is banned within 10 metres of playgrounds, spray parks and sports fields and within five metres of doorways, windows or air intakes.

The man who the public square is named after, former U.K Prime Minister Winston Churchill, was an avid smoker often photographed with his iconic cigar.