Lewiston’s city council is on the right track with its concern about cigarette butts and dog waste in city parks. The presence of both turns what should be a community asset into an impromptu trash dump.

Last week, the council prohibited dogs from certain parks and athletic fields, while also leaving open a smoking ban. The policies came after the new playground on Knox Street – the product of a strong community effort – was found littered during a council field trip in September.

These transgressions – although quite disgusting – are largely careless acts by people. Show us a smoker, and we’ll show you somebody who’s flicked their butt away into the environment without a second thought.

And show us a dog owner, and we’ll show you somebody who has allowed Fido, every now and then, to enjoy nature’s call without concern, and justified it as natural fertilizer.

That doesn’t make it right. All it does is make it understandable. What’s common between them – easy disposal without fear of punishment – leads to the first action Lewiston’s city council should take to stop them: flex some old-fashioned enforcement.

Just like confronting a smoker about quitting, or trying to change canine bathroom behavior, offering different avenues to continue the same activity is counterproductive. This is our concern with one city notion: an off-leash park.

Creating a designated area for dogs to romp is a fine plan for a new community amenity, but doesn’t do much to alleviate the concerns about cleanliness in the city parks. It may confine the problem, but not resolve it.

Stepping up enforcement of anti-smoking and doggie hygiene disposal in Lewiston parks would address the issue more directly, and hopefully condition smokers and pet owners about the unsuitability of this behavior and urge them – nicely, of course – to stop it.

Plans for an off-leash park do have merit. If placed correctly, at a nexus of neighborhoods for maximum utilization, the park could become a gathering place for dog-loving neighbors who would otherwise enjoy their pets solo.

The off-leash park should be considered as a treat for dogs and residents, but not a solution to wasteful behavior elsewhere. Offering another venue for the same behavior may only guarantee it continues.

Stop it where it starts.