The Ohio EPA expressly forbids open burning of yard waste within city limits (http://www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/27/general/openburningtable.pdf). Where open burning is permitted, fires can be no nearer to occupied residential buildings than 1,000 feet.

Throughout the year, and especially in autumn, the City Park and environs can be covered in a pall of noxious smoke rendering trails, tennis courts and dog parks unusable. Depending upon prevailing winds, residents of homes several blocks from park side fires are inconvenienced and, in the case of people with respiratory illness, sickened by illegal fires.

In addition to a beautiful public park, the city of Urbana also provides generous facilities for the disposal of yard waste. Please be considerate of your neighbors.

Robert Puglia

Urbana