If you're a smoker you may want to listen up before you light up, especially if you frequent Bibb County parks. A new anti-smoking policy for Bibb Parks and Recreation centers has one parent excited about the change.

"I have an eight year old child,” said Andrew Sliver, a member of the Friends of Tatnall Square Park. “I try to keep him away for as much second hand smoke as I can."

Bibb County Board of Commissioners voted four to one to ban smoking from Bibb County parks.
It is an idea that the director of parks and recreation Doc Dougherty says is good. "When you are around youth sports and the fresh air of nature people are not concerned as much to smoke right next to the bleachers of the little league dug out."

"This basically gives parents the opportunity to say if somebody is smoking around the playground, Hey this is a no smoking area we don't want our child to be breathing in second hand smoke," adds Sliver.

Dougherty went on to say, "I don't think many people will be concerned with it. Most people understand that they can go far enough way or to where nobody sees them. Sit in their car maybe."

It is a policy that supporters think people will respond to willingly. "I think a lot more people would be happy with it. They have had to confront someone in the past and say don't smoke right next to myself and my child," he adds.

In addition to the smoking ban, commissioners also voted to move forward with stricter policies for fees and rental requirements for Bibb parks and recs facilities. Before the meeting, no polices were in place.

As far as the smoking ban at sports complexes, Andrew Sliver feels, "It's a big win for parents and for children."

Although the ban focuses on all of Bibb County's parks, commissioners expressed more concern for areas of the parks where children are would be more likely to receive second hand smoke like ball fields and playgrounds.