Cigarettes and other tobacco products would be off-limits in Woodbury's parks, playgrounds and athletic fields under a measure to be considered today by the city's Park and Recreation Commission.

Proposed changes to Woodbury's park ordinance would forbid smoking and other forms of tobacco within 100 feet of public recreational property, including the city beach at Carver Lake. Tobacco also would be banned from city property surrounding Central Park, Ojibway Park and Bielenberg Sports Center.

"It's basically to address issues that we have adjacent to school sites," said Bob Klatt, Woodbury's parks and recreation director. The proposed ban came to the fore with the construction of East Ridge High School, which opens in the fall. The new school sits next to Bielenberg, one of the busiest gathering spots in the city.

Because of the city's partnership with the South Washington County School District, Woodbury also will have several new athletic fields and other public conveniences ready when the high school opens. The city is adding nine baseball/softball fields, nine full-size soccer fields and three multipurpose practice football fields around the school, Klatt said. The $9 million project also includes a redeveloped parking lot at Bielenberg, a new main entrance off Radio Drive, added lighting on athletic fields and three picnic shelters with restrooms and storage space.

"It will be a constantly busy site with athletic events," he said.

In addition to the tobacco restrictions, the commission will consider another change to the city's park ordinance. Hours would be expanded to reflect current patterns of use. Parks are now open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Under the proposal, they would be open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

An extended smoking ban in parks, Klatt said, would bring the city into line with schools' ban of tobacco use on their property. It would match Washington County's tobacco-free policy in parks, he said.

Many of the new students at East Ridge will come from Cottage Grove. That city prohibits smoking in city buildings but not in city parks, said city administrator Ryan Schroeder.

In Hastings, in Dakota County, the city began a tobacco-free policy in public buildings and parks in 2007, said spokesperson Shannon Rausch. That includes swimming pools and the public square outside City Hall, she said.

If Woodbury's Park and Recreation Commission approves the ordinance change today, the matter would go to the Woodbury City Council.

Discussions of the change started last spring. Klatt said he's heard no objections to the proposed ban.

The commission meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Kevin Giles • 612-673-4432