Ashtrays instead of smoke-free zone along Cornwall waterfront trail, city staff suggest

In this June 2017, file photo, a person walks along a section of the waterfront trail near Marina 200 in Cornwall, Ont. City staff are recommending the municipality put out ashtrays near cigarette butt problem areas instead of making the trail a smoke free zone. (Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)

CORNWALL – The city’s parks manager is recommending the municipality not go ahead with making part of the waterfront trail a smoke free zone.

Instead, Jamie Fawthrop is suggesting the city install outdoor ashtrays along the path in certain areas like the Lamoureux Park boat launch where cigarette butts are a problem.

The request for the smoke-free zone from Power Dam Drive to Gray’s Creek came from the eco group, the Great River Network.

In a report to council, Fawthrop says enforcement is also an issue since the trail is busiest on nights and weekends when bylaw isn’t on duty. Also, by the time they would arrive to a complaint, the perpetrator would be gone.

City council will discuss the recommendation Monday night and could also go with the option to still make it smoke free. But staff say the entire 18 kilometers of waterfront trail – not just Power Dam Drive to Gray’s Creek – would need to be designated to avoid confusion.

Putting all the signs up to designate the entire trail would cost $20,000.