Town Square Park: Going up in Smoke?

Those in charge of the Town Square Park here in Reston Town Center should remove all cigarette butt receptacles from the Park. Or, failing that, they should remove as many as possible, beginning with those farther west.

I want the ash receptacles removed from the Park because I believe they encourage smoking in the park. Each additional cigarette butt receptacle helps send the message that it is completely okay to smoke in the park, especially near a receptacle. Moreover, those receptacles toward the west end of the Park could result in smoke entering homes in the nearby condominiums when the weather is suitable for open windows.

Does anyone doubt the danger of second-hand smoke? And some people find cigarette smoke repulsive regardless of whether it is dangerous. I don’t see why non-smokers in the Park or nearby homes should have to put up with tobacco smoke originating in the Park.

I first noticed a cigarette butt receptacle in the Park a couple months ago, in the southeast corner of the Park. A week or so later, I saw a second ash receptacle 50 feet or so west of the first. A couple weeks after that, I saw a third toward the northwest corner of the Park. Today I saw a fourth, also toward that northwest corner of the Park. I am beginning to wonder how many cigarette butt receptacles must be in the Park before those in charge of the Park think there are enough.

I am NOT suggesting prohibition of smoking in the Park. But I am requesting removal of the ash receptacles to avoid the appearance of approval for smoking in the Park. If there must be any cigarette butt receptacles in the Park, the number should be one, two at the most, located at the far southeast corner of the Park.

If you wish to comment, you can email me at rasmussen305@gmail.com or, better yet, please register in my forum and then post your comment there in this thread: http://mstcuoa.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=19&page=1