Is it asking too much for parents to be reasonable about the risks to their children? Hillsborough’s helicopter parents appear ready to win the day and impose their irrational fear of smoking on the public by convincing the town to ban smoking in five public parks.

“We want to provide a completely smoke-free atmosphere in parks,” said Margaret Hauth, Hillsborough planning director. “Our parks are outside in nature and the town board felt like they exist for improving the health and physical activity of users. Being exposed to cigarette smoke does not allow this to happen.”

The proposal was made after Gold Park, Hillsborough’s first community park, opened April 18. The 20-acre park includes a playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, fields, dog parks, natural areas and a greenway. Residents had voiced concerns with people smoking near structures where their children played. The proposal resulted from health concerns rather than environmental ones.

It’s a case of parents acting like the children they’re supposed to be raising. The parks are huge, folks. How about simply walking away from a smoker — or anyone who’s doing something you don’t like? What’s next? Ban speech with which you don’t agree?