Girl Scouts project drives officials to rethink smoking ordinance in parks, playgrounds

DEWITT — A Girl Scouts project aimed to end smoking in parks and a playground has appeared to pay off for Troop 30226.

DeWitt's City Council is expected to approve next week an ordinance that will make all seven city parks and a playground smoke-free.

The effort was part of a service project that gained steam in January when the troop first made its pitch to the city's parks commission.

“We try to push them a little farther than just selling cookies," said Stacey Messina, the troop's leader.

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Council's first reading of a new smoke-free ordinance for parks and a playground was passed on March 13.

Daniel Coss, DeWitt's city administrator, anticipates all seven council members will approve the ordinance's second reading on March 27.

Once passed, the ordinance is expected to take effect April 1, Coss said.

The troop has 11 Scouts, ages 9 and 10, who are all in the fourth grade.

They presented to officials a 15-page report that emphasizes the health risks secondhand smoke pose.

It also cites over 50 communities in the state that are smoke-free.

Aubrey Howe, 9, said she's proud to be part of a troop that will make history.

"We’ll have a story to tell when we’re older," Aubrey said of the ordinance's anticipated passage. "But it also means that we’re helping people around us.”

The parks and playground expected to be smoke-free on April 1:

Memorial Park, 404 S. Bridge St.

Riverside Park, 405 S. Bridge St.

River Trail Park, 211 E. Dill Dr.

McGuire Park, 1001 W. Main St.

Sports Park, 200 W. Herbison Rd.

Millbrook Meadows Park, Manchester street, south of Dartmouth street

Percy Caris Park, Cherry and Cedarwood streets

All Kids Playground, 203 E Dill Dr.

If it weren't for the Scouts, Coss said the city probably would have allowed smoking in parks and playgrounds indefinitely.

The Scouts were catalysts and gave a persuasive presentation that was well-researched and didn't seek special treatment, Coss said.

"Forget about how old they are," Coss said of the pitch to officials. "If it were a group of adults, it would have been just as impressive.

Messina's daughter, Sophie Messina, 9, decided to pass on to her fellow Scouts the idea to pursue a smoke-free plan in DeWitt.

Last summer, Sophie got the idea after she noticed that parks in nearby St. Johns were smoke-free.

Stacey Messina, the troop's leader, said she's impressed with the troop's ability to work together and pursue a goal which often took them out of their comfort zones.

Ava Kujansuu, 9, said her troop's efforts to change DeWitt produces a sense of confidence that's contagious.

“It means that girls can really do anything," Ava said.

Several Lansing area communities have made strides over the past couple of years to take on smoking in public areas.

In 2016, East Lansing's City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits the use of tobacco in parks, plazas and recreational facilities.

Michigan State University's tobacco ban also took effect that year.

A list posted on the michigan.gov website said there more than 80 communities in the state that have smoke-free policies for parks and other public areas.

The list includes the parks systems in Ingham and Eaton counties, Lansing's Potter Park Zoo, Delta Township's parks and trails and Lansing Township's parks.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com.

Girl Scouts alumni

There are about 2.6 million Girl Scouts worldwide and several who went on to become accomplished leaders in politics and business. A few recognizable leaders and statistics of those currently in public service roles:

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube

Virginia Rometty, CEO of IBM

Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and presidential candidate

Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state

Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state

73% of female U.S. senators

51% of women serving in U.S. House of Representatives

Four of six current female governors

Source: GirlScouts.org