Philly mayor orders all city parks go smoke-free

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Public parks in Philadelphia are now officially smoke-free.

Mayor Michael Nutter signed an executive order Tuesday that extends the city’s smoke-free regulations by banning smoking in city parks, effective immediately.

That includes more than 100 neighborhood parks and 11,000 acres in total.

Philadelphia joins other major cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta that already have smoke-free public parks.

Nutter said the policy will help protect the environment, reduce second-hand smoke and motivate smokers to quit.

The city passed an ordinance in 2006 making workplaces, restaurants, and bars smoke-free.