MOUNTAIN HOME -- The Democrat Gazette of Arkansas reports that opponents of a sweeping smoking ban in city parks prevailed Tuesday as the City Council adopted a compromise ordinance establishing "tobacco product-free zones" in the parks.

The new law bars tobacco use at the city youth center and its parking lot, swimming pool, concession stands and playground equipment areas. Tobacco use also is prohibited in ballpark bleachers, except where designated.

The city rethought the smoking ban after a county resident gathered signatures on petitions to force a referendum on the issue, and letter-writers in local newspapers fumed about the ban.

City Alderman Monte Manchester, who sponsored the ordinance, said some park-goers also had complained about second-hand smoke in the bleachers and playgrounds, as well as cigarette butts littering the parks.

But Baxter County resident Marvin Kent gathered 1,300 signatures on petitions calling for a referendum on the smoking ban, which would have gone into effect Sunday.

Manchester, who cast the only vote against the compromise ordinance, said the tobacco-free zones won't address the problem of youth smoking in the parks.

"I think it's just a shame that the original problem we started out to cure, we don't touch at all," he said.