(Photo courtesy of Phoenix)

El Oso Park in Maryvale is Phoenix’s first tobacco-free park.

El Oso Park in Maryvale has become Phoenix’s first tobacco-free park. 

Students from nearby Trevor Browne High School pushed for the pilot project, which is scheduled to run for two years. 

Keith Walker with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health said there won’t be fines or penalties for anyone who uses tobacco products in the park.

"It’s solely for awareness and education, and to build a new normal for a healthy environment, which excludes tobacco," Walker said.

Trevor Browne students will participate in quarterly park cleanups and surveys to measure the success of the initiative and report back to the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. There are currently no plans to make other parks tobacco-free.