Allerdale Council is considering outlawing lighting up in areas designed for youngsters.
Any new rules would cover places including Workington, Maryport, Cockermouth, Keswick, Wigton and Aspatria.
Carni McCarron-Holmes, the councillor responsible for health in the borough, said: “Essentially the idea is that a voluntary ban will be introduced into play areas to encourage parents not to smoke in front of their children or other children.
“Research shows that reducing child exposure to smoking decreases the uptake of smoking among young people in the long term.
“Children learn their behaviour from adults and so it’s essential that in our communities tobacco use is not seen as part of everyday life.”
People in Allerdale will be asked their views on the proposals in a survey being carried out to coincide with National Non-Smoking Day tomorrow.
The council is carrying out the work – between midday and 1pm – in conjunction with NHS Cumbria.
It is not the first time that a notion of a park smoking ban has been mooted in the county.
Last year, Bill Wearing, the county councillor who chairs Cumbria’s influential health and wellbeing scrutiny committee, urged local authorities to make it illegal to smoke there.
He argued that passive smoking was a health risk, even in open spaces.
Then, it appeared to have little initial support for immediate action from the district councils in charge of parks throughout the county.
Surveys will be carried out in play areas.
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