In the latest crusade to curb smoking in public places, the Cape Cod National Seashore will ban the act, effective June 19. The prohibition is applicable to six of the Seashore’s beaches under the watch of lifeguards.
“The smoking prohibition is the result of a number of complaints from visitors who have been affected by second hand smoke on the guarded beaches,” said National Seashore Superintendent George E. Price, Jr. in a statement. “Visitors expressed that their ability to enjoy the beach experience was impacted.”
Those who wish to inhale their toxins without catching flack from any onlookers are encouraged to do so outside of the beach area. And it goes without saying that you should trash the butts.
The Seashore itself spans just south of the 40-miles encompassing most of Provincetown on the very tip of the Cape, down the Eastern seaboard to Chatham (or the elbow of the Cape for you visual learners out there). In Truro and Wellfleet, the two towns directly south of Provincetown, the National Park-protected area juts inland to the Western shore of the cape (the Cape Cod Bay side) and fortifies much of Wellfleet Harbor.
President Kennedy signed the Cape Cod National Seashore Act into law back in 1961, preserving 43,607 acres worth of Mother Nature. Though the Kennedy clan were frequenters of Hyannisport, the National Seashore is essentially on the opposite side of the Cape from where they used to vacation.
The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has taken similar steps to disallow smoking in city-run public spaces though how strictly they’ve enforced that ruling is unclear at this time. Given that the National Seashore is backed by the feds, they’ll surely have more resources at their disposal to keep people from puffing on their stogies.
Considering that the Boston ruling was met with some backlash from smokers who feel the prohibition infringes on their individual liberties, some are likely to share a similar sentiment in this situation. Me? I’m siding with The Man. Smoking in public places as esteemed as Boston’s spaces or the National Seashore not only poses the risk of second-hand smoke to bystanders, but also degrades the sheer natural beauty and illustriousness of the space – which is exactly what it was designated for people to enjoy in the first place.
But what do you think? Do you think people should smoke on the federally controlled National Seashore? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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