To the Editor:
My name is Kevin Rattigan, and I am 12 years old. I live in Ponte Vedra Beach, and I am part of Boy Scout Troop 277. I am writing to you in reference to the Dec. 11, 2025, article titled “St. Johns County bans smoking, vaping in parks, beaches.”
My troop and I spend a lot of time outdoors in St. Johns County and the surrounding areas, and I want to thank our local leaders for taking steps to protect our parks and beaches by banning smoking and vaping in these shared spaces. Scouts are taught to be “conservationminded,” and part of that means leaving every place better than we found it. This new rule helps everyone do their part.
After this last Fourth of July my family and I went to the beach with some friends. While having fun I almost stepped on a burned-out sparkler with my bare foot. I was shocked to find lots of sparklers left from the day before. I even found what may have been a used firework casing in the sand. My brother, sister and I spent a few minutes trying to clean up as much as we could, but we probably missed a lot. Seeing that mess made me realize how even small actions can have a big impact on our environment.
Cigarette butts and vape cartridges create the same kind of problem. If they are left behind on the beach year-round, they can end up in the water, in the dunes, or in the stomachs of animals who mistake them for food. Keeping smoking and vaping out of public spaces also helps families, especially kids, enjoy the outdoors without worrying about secondhand exposure.
I hope our community will support this decision and work together to keep our beaches and parks clean. When we all take responsibility, we protect the places that make St. Johns County such a great place to live.
Yours in scouting,
Kevin Rattigan,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
