Smoking and vaping at parks in Reno, Sparks and Washoe County is now illegal. Over the last three years, the three municipalities, in addition to Sun Valley, enacted an ordinance that would ban smoking and vaping at public parks. 

Monday, the three agencies revealed a new sign at Snowflake Pavilion at Idlewild Park that will go soon up at parks across Northern Nevada. 

"Our sign design is intended to have nice artwork," said David Pritchett, Reno Parks Comissioner. "It has a bull terrier dog with a leash." 

"I think its a great step towards keeping our parks healthy spaces and healthy for young lungs at work," said Colleen Wallace Barnum, Park Operations Superintendent, Washoe County. 

Reno, Sparks and Washoe County argue parks are a public place and people should have the right to enjoy the outdoors without breathing second hand smoke.

"We ask people not to smoke and not to vape within the parks," said Kelli Goatley-Seals with the Washoe County Health District. "So if they need to smoke when they're in the park, we do ask them to go off site and do that off site."

Enforcing the new rules is a little tricky, though. Deputies and police officers won't actively patrol the parks looking for violators. In theory, though, if a police officer or deputy were to see somebody smoking, they could issue a warning. 

"People who have broken the law will be given a warning," said Tracy Domingues, City of Sparks Parks Recreation Director. "If they continue to violate, then they will be charged."

We asked Northern Nevadans if they like the new rules, or if they go too far.

"I don't smoke and I don't vape," said Darrell Todd of Sparks. "So I'm all for that."

"I believe it should be done out of the kindness of their own heart," said Georgia Kent of Reno. 

"I don't think its necessary to have that kind of 'catch all' proposal," said Kyle Smith of Reno.