Signage went up this week around Newton playgrounds and sports fields announcing the City's new tobacco-free parks policy. The City Commission adopted the policy last November at the request of the Healthy Harvey Coalition as a way to combat the health hazards of second-hand smoke and littering of cigarette butts in parks. Violations of the policy are not criminal in nature, but violators could be asked to cease tobacco use or leave the park property. 

When Newton, Kansas was founded, it was named after Newton, Massachusetts, where a number of railroad investors lived. Although the Boston suburb was first settled in 1639, it was not incorporated as a city until 1874, making this year its 150th anniversary. 

Their local newspaper, Fig City News, reached out to the City to ask about our sesquicentennial celebration in 2022 and to discuss our cities' shared history. We were pleased to send a care package of Newton150 merchandise to Massachusetts and wish them all the best in their anniversary year! At right is Newton, MA Mayor Ruthanne Fuller sporting our "Waiting on Trains" t-shirt. 

We are pleased to announce Newton has again been recognized as a Tree City of the World in the program’s third year. To earn Tree Cities of the World recognition, a City must demonstrate its commitment by meeting five program standards: Establish responsibility for the care of trees, set rules to govern the management of forests and trees, maintain an updated inventory or assessment of local tree resources, allocate resources for a tree management plan, and hold an annual celebration of trees to educate residents. Newton has been a Tree City USA for 47 years.