Smoke-Free Haddad Park

Parks and Recreation Committee advanced a measure that would ban smoking at Haddad Riverfront Park during public events. Committee members unanimously approved the resolution and forwarded it to the full City Council with a recommendation it be approved. Committee members also struck a section from the ordinance that would have allowed the host of an event to create special smoking sections within the park. The ban would prohibit smoking from the northern shore of the Kanawha River, through the seating and to the edge of the sidewalk along the southern side of Kanawha Boulevard. The non-smoking area also would include the park from Capitol Street to the Court Street overlook and pavilion. The resolution prohibits the smoking of a pipe, cigar, or cigarette "of any kind containing any tobacco product or any kind of weed or plant." Parks and Recreation Chairwoman Susie Salisbury, a Charleston councilwoman from Fort Hill, said the smoking ban also would apply to performers and stagehands. People leaving boats also would not be allowed to smoke. "Someone stepping off their boat onto the dock can't have a cigarette in their hand," she said. However, smokers still could light up on Kanawha Boulevard, which is typically closed to traffic during large special events. The full council will consider the measure during a May 7 meeting. "We hope to have this in effect by the first Live on the Levee concert," Salisbury said.