The Marquette City Commission made the right decision Tuesday in regard to a tobacco policy at Presque Isle Park.

Commission and the city’s Presque Isle Advisory Committee have been wrestling with controlling smoking in the city park for many months, with input from citizens and a health-focused organization.

The committee had recommended that the city ban tobacco materials at the park – including smoking and chewing products.

Following the recommendation being rejected by the commission, taking a more educational approach to controlling smoking and other tobacco use at the park was favored.

This is a logical step in light of a few limiting factors to a total ban, including the difficulty in enforcing the rule, how to regulate smokers in their private vehicles driving through the park, how would boaters who rent slips in the Presque Isle Marina be regulated and whether such a wide-reaching control is even justified.

The proposed ordinance also contained some rather strict language open to interpretation, such as banning the use any “spark, flame or fire producing device.” Would that have meant not allowing charcoal grills to be used or small gas stoves for cooking a meal?

The idea of installing signs reminding smokers and other tobacco users about littering – including with cigarette butts and chew containers – and to be courteous to other park users makes sense.

Littering is illegal to begin with, so reminders of the “take only photos, leave only footprints” theme at The island should be stressed more.

Perhaps a few designated smoking areas scattered around Presque Isle would be a good idea, as well, providing portions of the park set aside for smokers and other areas for non-smokers.

That said, there is no debating the dangers of tobacco use, the health-damaging impacts have been known for many years. There are also vigorous stop smoking efforts underway that have greatly reduced tobacco use and helped make us a healthier society.

However, in America we still have the right to participate in unhealthy activities – as long as they are legal, other laws (such as littering) are not broken in the process and we are not infringing on other people’s rights.