The Los Angeles County proposed on Tuesday that smoking be banned in all of the 144 public parks in the county's 88 satellite cities.

An ordinance prohibiting smoking at all county parks will be drafted by the end of summer for approval, the Board of Supervisors said.

The proposal also called for designated smoking areas at lease-operated facilities, including the county's 19 golf courses.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who asked that the ordinance be drafted, said he regretted that something was not done sooner so that Angelenos could "enjoy the parks in the most crowded period smoke-free."

He said he hoped the ordinance could be written faster than the mandated 90 days.

"It's a good policy, a good recommendation," Supervisor Mike Antonovich said.

A representative from the American Cancer Society, appearing before the board with other advocates of smoke-free parks, said lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, even though lung cancer deaths fell 26 percent between 1988 and 2002.

The ordinance will be drafted by lawyers for the county, with input from the Parks and Recreation and Public Health departments and the chief executive officer.

Los Angeles took the step after California's Senate approved a bill last month that would impose a 100-dollar fine on anyone caught smoking at parks and beaches.

The state park smoking ban bill is now under consideration by the Assembly.

More than 100 local governments in California already ban smoking at parks and beaches.

Source:Xinhua