Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further. The benches are technically on the sidewalk, we do not have the ability to ban smoking on public sidewalks. The playground within the fence is considered a nonsmoking area. We can add signage out side the park by the benches.

I disagree. The benches may not be in the playground, but they certainly are in the park - albeit the part of the park that has a brick surface rather than a grass surface. The Municipal Code makes no distinction between grassy areas or paved areas or playground areas; and the Wilder-Lee Park is listed as a Public Park Restricted Area.

Reference: https://www.municode.com/library/ma/cambridge/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8HESA_CH8.28REYOACSATOPRSMWOPUPL_8.28.085LIPUPAREAR

Thank you for agreeing, Robert. These benches are directly next to the fence and there is no chance for the children to not breathe in smoke. People use this as a place to take their smoke break all day long and then literally throw the butts onto the ground (there is no where else to put them except for a trash can) and then they end up on the other side of the fence where children pick them up. There are a MASSIVE amount of cigarette butts in the playground and it's really unappealing. I know I'm being a pain in the butt but the mulch is like a mixture of wood chips and cigarette butts. It's gross and unsanitary for little children who put everything into their mouths. Thank you all so much for listening to my concern and responding so quickly.

Thank you for reporting this issue to us. We are pleased to report back to you that this issue is now resolved. We have installed more no smoking signage. We hope this helps resolve the issue.

Thanks for fixing this issue!