Finding places to smoke outdoors in Boulder may soon be more difficult.

City officials this week took a step toward . The new rule would also prohibit smoking while sitting in parked cars in the area.

"We鈥檙e talking about a very specific area in the heart of the city of Boulder," city spokesperson Sarah Huntley says. "It鈥檚 called the municipal campus, and it runs from the public library to about 13th Sreet where the Boulder farmers鈥� market is held, and then between Arapahoe and Canyon Blvd."

Huntley says the move is aimed at addressing concerns about second-hand smoke along this popular gathering area.

"Much of the space in this proposed ban is green space," Huntley says. "People come down to the creek with their kids, they want to jog, they want to walk and bike along the bike path. These are by their very nature ways of pursuing a healthier lifestyle. But many residents are telling us they鈥檙e currently avoiding the area, or they participate in these activities under a haze of smoke."

Boulder isn鈥檛 the first community to propose wide restrictions on outdoor smoking, Huntley says, noting that Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Albuquerque have banned smoking in parks.

"This is really consistent with what we think is a community value, that really places health and well-being and wellness at the forefront," she says. "And we're hopeful the community will agree that this is consistent with that."

Huntley says the rule won鈥檛 take effect until after a 15-day public comment period 鈥� and could be modified, depending on the feedback they get.

Comments can be emailed to Ann Large in the city manager鈥檚 office.