Young Lungs at Play - Smoke and Tobacco-free Playgrounds and Recreation Centers

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Contact Information

Organization Information

Project Summary

Young Lungs at Play is a program aimed to help communities create tobacco-free parks, playgrounds and recreational areas for children. Many Pennsylvania communities have adopted outdoor tobacco-free policies at parks, zoos, athletic fields, playgrounds, trails and even city sidewalks and streets to help protect both children and the environment. To help your area become smoke and tobacco-free, contact us! Signs and policy assistance are free across PA.

Project Goal

Prevent second-hand smoke exposure and promote healthy areas for physical activity.

Promotional Methods

Young Lungs At Play has made its way into the public consciousness through local and state-wide collaboration between community partners, along with youth and media engagement. Press conferences at parks and recreation are often held with new policy and sign implementation. Stories and Letters to the Editor are also submitted to local news outlets.

Project Challenges

YLAP can be passively enforced through signage. Removal of smoking/cigarette bins may help foster transition to smoke-free areas. Despite facing challenges from some citizens and public official cautioning against impeding individual rights, most communities fully embrace and want these policies in place.

Project Results

The YLAP Honor Roll is a list of all municipalities that have implemented a Young Lungs at Play policy and signage. To date, 824 Communities in PA have become YLAP communities.
See the YLAP "Honor Roll" and Maps here: http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Healthy%20Living/Smoke%20Free%20Tobacco/Pages/YLAP.aspx#.WO0ne1MrLdS

Organization Type

Advocacy Organization

Types of Practices

  • Community
  • Health Systems
  • K-12 Schools
  • Workplace

Target Age Ranges

  • All

Gender(s)

  • All

Race/Ethnicity

  • All

Project Service Type

  • Advocacy
  • Awareness
  • Community Outreach / Community Engagement
  • Other
  • Prevention

Project Content Area

  • Chronic Respiratory Disease
  • Health (general)
  • Health Equity
  • Physical Activity
  • Safety
  • Tobacco Cessation
  • Vaping / e-Cigarette Use

Project/Program Care Team Target Population

  • All Practitioners
  • Other

Counties Served

  • All Counties

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