Village Votes to Prohibit Smoking in Parks

The Village Board has unanimously approved a resolution banning smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes in some local parks, particularly in areas where children play.

But other areas – like Riverfront Park – are not impacted by the ban.

The board adopted the motion to ban smoking at all times at the Little League field and its neighboring playscape. On Isabel Rainey Field on Rte. 385, smoking is banned during girls’ softball games only – when the men’s league or other events take place no ban will be in effect.

Smoking is also banned in the Bunker Hill Dog Park on Union Street, at all times.

Mayor Andrea Smallwood authored the resolution, which officials have been contemplating for several months. The issue had come up in the past, several years ago, but nothing was done in light of some community opposition. However, this time around there was little or no resistance to the move.

The ban is designed “to help role model a smoke-free lifestyle for children, and to provide a safe, smoke-free environment for children and their families,” the resolution reads in part.

Deputy Mayor Herman Reinhold said one resident who owns a home opposite the Little League field was concerned that if smoking were banned during games, those parents might come across the street to smoke in front of his house, and toss cigarette butts into his yard.

“I am not sure what we can do about that, but I am all for the resolution,” Reinhold said. Others agreed there was little the village could do to avert such a practice.

The resolution passed unanimously.

Lisa Heintz from the Rip Van Winkle Tobacco-Free Action, who first raised the issue with the Village Board, said the move is good news for local kids on several fronts. Not only does it prevent them from being exposed to harmful second-hand smoke, Heintz said, making smoking less commonplace could discourage some youngsters from starting the habit in the first place.

“When children don’t see the act of smoking and they are not subjected to second-hand smoke, it doesn’t seem so commonplace to them and it denormalizes smoking, so they will be less likely to think of doing it themselves,” Heintz said.

Heintz said her group would provide the signs that will be posted outside the parks free of charge, so the new resolution costs the village nothing.

The Rip Van Winkle Tobacco-Free Action has been making the rounds in Greene County, asking towns and villages to make areas where children congregate smoke-free. So far, the Town of Catskill has banned smoking at Ricky Cramer Field, the Village of Coxsackie has banned smoking in all parks, and Greenville has made its soccer and baseball fields at Vanderbilt Park tobacco-free. Heintz plans to begin urging that town’s beautification committee to push for a similar ban throughout the rest of the park.