A new law passed in the Chicago Park District will vote Wednesday on a proposal to ban smoking at public beaches, playgrounds and play lots. If it passes, it will go into effect immediately.

The Chicago Park District announced the proposal at Margate Park on Tuesday morning. It would prohibit smoking at all of the beaches, play lots and playgrounds within the Chicago Park District system.

Last year, Mayor Daley dismissed the idea of a ban on beach smoking and questioned how it could be enforced. Parks officials say if an anti-smoking measure is passed, they would rely on citizens to report violations to police who would issue tickets to offenders.

The Chicago Park District cited research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that classifies second-hand smoke as hazardous to human health as the need to ban smoking from the area frequented by children and others. Also, research shows, according to the park district, that children who observe tobacco use at public places may model the behavior.

Environmentalists have called for a ban on smoking at public beaches for years because cigarette butts are the number one item removed from beaches in Chicago and around the world. The discarded butts can be toxic to fish and birds, as well as pollute the water.