A public hearing with regard to making Sunnyside Park in Atlantic entirely smoke free, will take place Monday evening, at City Hall. The meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board and public hearing follows on the heels of a proposal June 17th by Karla Akers and a group of young people who are associated with the Kiwanis’-sponsored, Middle School Builders Club.Akers said originally, the tobacco-free zone request focused on the skate park area at Sunnyside Park, but the hope is to eventually make all parks in Cass County being tobacco free, to make them “A family friendly, safe, positive environment for healthy activity.”

To that end, Akers presented the Parks and Rec Board with a signed petition requesting Sunnyside Park be designated as Tobacco Free. If approved by the Parks and Rec Board and, by the City Council at a future meeting, violators will be asked to stop using tobacco products on Park property, or leave the property. If they fail to do so, a trespassing complaint may be filed with law enforcement.

In other business, the Parks and Rec Board will receive a monthly update from Director Roger Herring, with regard to the Schildberg Recreation Area, Sunny Park Tennis Court reconstruction, the boat ramp, Summer Rec programs, the Buck Creek Dog Park, and Park Maintenance building. The meeting in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, begins at 5:15-p.m., Monday.