Marble Falls passes smoking/vaping ban in parks
Smoking and vaping are officially outlawed in Marble Falls public parks.
During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, the Marble Falls City Council approved a ban on puffing pastimes in city-owned parks going forward. The decision was made following a series of complaints from park visitors about dealing with second-hand smoke/vapor at community events, youth-sports activities, and near playgrounds.
The ban comes in the form of Ordinance 2026-O-01A, which implements a clear prohibition on “smoking” and “vaping” at all Marble Falls city parks. It would make the activities Class C misdemeanors punishable by up to $500 in fines.
“Really, our goal at this point is just to promote park spaces as a safe and healthy environment,” Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman said during Tuesday’s meeting. “But, ultimately making sure that we are balancing public usage within our park spaces.”
The decision on the ban was not made unanimously. It was ultimately passed with a 5-1 vote, with Mayor John Packer as the sole opposer. Place 4 Councilor Karlee Hubble was absent, and did not vote.
“I do have a little bit of a problem for a blanket thing of no smoking for all parks,” Packer said.
The ordinance does allow for “exceptions” at the discretion of the Parks and Recreation director, who has the power to permanently or temporarily create “designated outdoor smoking areas,” as needed.
Part of the enforcement of the new ordinance would include signage at parks to spread the word on the ban. Parks included are Lakeside Park, Johnson Park, Westside Park, Villa Vista Park, Falls Creek Park, and the upcoming Mormon Mill Nature Park. It also includes the various city-owned sports fields throughout town.
The ordinance was developed by city staff and initially approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission in November.
Notice of Tuesday’s meeting on the smoking and vaping ban was given in late November 2025 and DailyTrib reported on the matter in the Dec. 4 story, “Marble Falls considers smoking and vaping ban in public parks.”
Dingman elaborated further on her thinking with the ban.
“This (ordinance) came out of a series of complaints we’ve had at special events in parks, in public spaces, and youth athletic programs and ultimately decided to take a look at how we can address that,” she explained. “It’s a tool in our tool box. We don’t have to swing a hammer every time.”
3 thoughts on “Marble Falls passes smoking/vaping ban in parks”
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I love this, personally. This follows many other cities around the nation. This is hardly capitulating; it’s common sense in a time when this seems like a rare thing. There is a common argument against this type of decision that it infringes on the “rights” of smokers. Without the ban, people who don’t smoke don’t have a choice if people who do smoke do so near them – and it infringes on their right to clean air. While smoking is a personal choice, it’s terrible for that person’s health and terrible for public health. This isn’t an opinion; it’s science.
As a small side win here, this may also reduce some aspects of litter with cigarettes left on the ground. Not the main point of this, but still a benefit.
The Marble Falls City Council’s 5-1 passage of the smoking and vaping ban in public parks is a textbook case of government overreach that should concern every freedom-loving Texan.
Let’s be honest: this drastic measure wasn’t driven by an overwhelming public outcry. It stemmed from a mere handful of complaints, a “series” or “several” over time, according to reports. How many people does it actually take to convince elected officials to strip away the personal liberty of thousands of responsible adults in wide-open, fresh-air parks?
When a tiny, vocal minority dislikes a perfectly legal activity that harms no one in an outdoor setting, and the council responds by imposing fines, police enforcement, and blanket prohibitions, we’re no longer talking about reasonable accommodation. We’re witnessing officials bending the knee to the few at the expense of the many.
This isn’t leadership; it’s capitulation. It sends a dangerous message: complain loudly enough, even if you’re a small fraction of the community, and government will happily curtail everyone else’s rights to make you more comfortable.
Marble Falls has always stood for something better: that classic Texas live-and-let-live spirit. Today, that spirit took a real hit. Disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Horrible choice to implement ban from complaints without considering a public space being ‘open’.