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May 12, 2006 <br />Regarding: Smoke -Free Parks and Recreational areas <br />Dear Mounds View Parks, Recreation, and Trails Commission: <br />I am writing to express support for tobacco -free parks and recreational areas for our community. <br />By supporting a tobacco -free policy, the Parks and Recreation Commission can send a clear <br />message that we care about the health of the kids in our community and want them to make <br />positive lifestyle decisions. A tobacco -free policy will also ensure that coaches and parents can <br />be positive role models by not using tobacco in recreational areas. <br />Improving the health of Minnesotans is the most compelling reason to support smoke-free laws. <br />With nearly 4,000 chemicals, including at least 11 known cancer causing agents, secondhand <br />smoke, as well as smoking, has been shown to cause lung cancer, heart disease and asthma. <br />Tobacco use not only exposes participants and spectators to the harmful effects of secondhand <br />smoke, but it is also a nuisance and safety concern. The litter caused by tobacco use diminishes <br />the beauty of the city's park areas and can be accidentally ingested by young children. Tobacco <br />use in these settings also sends negative messages to our youth that tobacco use is an acceptable <br />behavior within our community. <br />A tobacco -free policy for city -owned recreational facilities provides consistency, since the North <br />St Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale School District facilities are already smoke-free. <br />I encourage you to make all city owned parks and recreational facilities tobacco free. <br />Thank you for your support in this most critical community health issue. <br />Sincerely, <br />Deb Kruse, RN <br />Anti -Tobacco Healthcare Organizer <br />Email: debkruse4district@hotmail.com <br />101 WESTPORT OFFICE BUILDING 0 220 SO. ROBERT ST. — ST. PAUL 55107 0 222-7448 <br />