Loading...

The Hopewell Recreation & Parks Department Joins Other Virginia Park Leaders in Creating 100% Tobacco-Free Parklands

Prince George County, VA (April 5, 2022) – The Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department made the decision to update its parks rules prohibiting tobacco- and e-cigarette-use in all of its outdoor recreational areas, effective March 30, 2022. The department has a longstanding rule that prohibits tobacco use in the general vicinity of playgrounds, athletic fields, restroom/concession buildings, and trails. However, following a meeting with Hopewell High School students and Y Street leaders, Phylisha Taylor and Anita Hall, and hearing their testimony on why adopting a comprehensive policy is important and beneficial for everyone, the department signed a commitment form to expand their existing rule so all parklands will be smoke-free, vapor-free, and tobacco-free.

Y Street is the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s (VFHY) statewide volunteer initiative for high school students. Y Street members like Phylisha and Anita strive to make sure Virginians have equitable access to clean and healthy spaces and do this by promoting the Share The Air campaign. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free and e-cigarette-free parklands by urging parks and recreation directors and other local government officials to adopt tobacco-free outdoor policies.

Research has demonstrated that a strong majority of Virginians (89%) agree that parklands should be tobacco-free and vapor-free. Additionally, Virginians (88%) feel strongly that secondhand smoke is a dangerous hazard outdoors, and that tobacco and e-cigarette products cause damage to the environment (91%).

With Hopewell partnering with the Share The Air campaign and joining other park leaders in promoting clean outdoor air, more Virginians now have healthier outdoor spaces where they can gather and be active. VFHY Executive Director Marty Kilgore thanks Y Street members like Phylisha and Anita for their continued advocacy and commends Hopewell for their commitment. “VFHY is proud to see youth advocacy like Phylisha and Anita’s lead to healthier communities. This decision by the Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department is a testament to their dedication to provide safe parklands and public spaces for all visitors.”

About the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY)

Established in 1999 by the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth empowers Virginia’s youth to make healthy choices by reducing and preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and childhood obesity.

VFHY takes a comprehensive approach to prevention work that includes reaching about 50,000 children each year through classroom-based prevention programs in public schools, after-school programs, community centers, day cares and prevention programs across the state. VFHY’s award-winning marketing campaigns deliver prevention messaging to more than 500,000 children annually. In addition, VFHY’s research program provides scientific insight on methods to effectively reduce tobacco use. Since 2002, VFHY has funded 40 large research projects at universities throughout Virginia. For more information, visit www.vfhy.org.

Press Releases

Radford City Public Schools is Setting a Healthy Example to Increase Students’ Water Consumption

Radford City, VA – Students in Radford will see significant, healthy changes when the new school year begins. Radford City Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly positively impact the health and well-being of students […]

READ MORE
Lancaster County Public Schools is Setting a Healthy Example to Increase Students’ Water Consumption

Lancaster, VA – Students in Lancaster County will see significant, healthy changes when the new school year begins. Lancaster County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and […]

READ MORE
James City County Parks & Recreation Promotes Tobacco-Free Outdoor Environments

James City County, VA. James City County Parks & Recreation is committed to promoting 100% tobacco-free outdoor environments by partnering with Share The Air, a campaign by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY), and its largest youth-led movement, Y Street. Share The Air aims to create 100% tobacco-free parklands across the Commonwealth by supporting […]

READ MORE
Cumberland County Public Schools is Setting a Healthy Example to Increase Students’ Water Consumption

Cumberland County, VA – Cumberland County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 1,233 […]

READ MORE
Healthy Hydration Takes Center Stage in Virginia Schools for Rev Your Bev Week 

This week in Virginia, students, teachers, early childhood educators, staff, and administrators are promoting healthy hydration in schools to increase students’ water consumption as a measure to prevent obesity. This effort is part of Rev Your Bev Week, a statewide week of action put forth by Rev Your Bev, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s […]

READ MORE
Powhatan County Public Schools is Setting a Healthy Example to Increase Students’ Water Consumption

Powhatan County, VA – Powhatan County Public Schools has made important updates to its School Wellness Policy to ensure that students have increased access to water throughout the school day. This change will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the health and well-being of students throughout the division and their overall academic success, with 4,295 […]

READ MORE