Duluth bans smoking on Lakewalk

An afternoon on the lake walk.
Brittaney Letourneau (front), Shirley Jamison (back left), Jacob McCarthy (back center) and Cheryl McCarthy (back right) enjoy an August afternoon on the Lakwalk near downtown Duluth, Minn.
Photo by Derek Montgomery for MPR News

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) -- Smokers have been banned from lighting up outside on the Lakewalk in Duluth.

The City Council passed a resolution Monday night which prohibits smoking on the 7-mile pathway bordering the downtown area along Lake Superior.

Councilor Jim Stauber says there have been problems with students smoking and littering the Lakewalk behind Duluth East High School. He says there have also been issues with patrons of the Last Place on Earth shop smoking synthetic marijuana or chemical crystals at a nearby park.

Councilor Sharla Gardner argued that banning smoking outside is taking it "a little bit too far." She noted there already laws against underage smoking and littering.

The Duluth News Tribune says the council passed the resolution 6 to 3.

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Information from: Duluth News Tribune