A new ordinance follows an earlier park rule
Oshkosh’s current proposal follows an earlier effort to make city parks smoke-free. The Northwestern reported that in 2018 the Park Board adopted a park-wide smoking rule without a Common Council vote, describing it as a pilot for staff to review after a year. The report said the effort grew from advocacy by the re:TH!NK Youth Coalition, made up of county health staff and Oshkosh students, and that a survey of about 150 park-goers found roughly 80% favored a ban. The Northwestern’s 2018 report provides that history.
The proposed rules and decision
The proposed ordinance would prohibit smoking in city parks, on roads alongside parks, within 25 feet of city-owned buildings, and at or within 25 feet of special events on public property. The downtown farmers market is one example of an affected event. E-cigarettes would be covered, and violations could result in fines of $100 to $250. Opera House Square is among the parks that would be covered. FOX11 reported these provisions and the expected November 17 Common Council vote.
The Common Council discussed the proposal on October 13 but took no action. The Parks Advisory Board later approved it unanimously; the board’s recommendation and the full written ordinance were dated November 9, 2026, a Monday, according to FOX11’s report.
Council support is not settled
FOX11 reported differing views among council members: Alec LeFeber favored limiting restrictions to particular park areas rather than applying a blanket rule, while Karl Buelow supported a citywide park ban. Brad Spanbauer and Joe Stephenson also supported the proposal; Paul Esslinger opposed it. Matt Mugerauer and Jacob Amos had not committed during the October discussion and did not respond to the station before publication. Four votes are needed for passage, so at least one of those two members would have to support it, the report said.
If the council approves the ordinance, existing smoking prohibitions on school property and at the Oshkosh Transit Center would remain in place, FOX11 reported.
