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LEWISBORO, N.Y. Its official. Nearly seven months after the idea was originally proposed, the Lewisboro Town Board has passed a local law that will prohibit smoking throughout most areas of its parks, ball fields and playgrounds.
The board passed the measure unanimously this past week after a public hearing during which no objections were raised.
Deputy Supervisor Peter DeLucia said the law serves a dual purpose. It prevents problems caused by secondhand smoke, but more importantly it sets a good example for children.
When we smoke around them, it becomes imbedded in them and they want to smoke, he said. While we dont want to be over-reaching, its understandable that we dont want people smoking around the children.
The law creates smoke-free zones by banning smoking within 75 feet of town-owned property that would include picnic areas, sports fields including tennis and basketball courts, pool facilities and playgrounds.
Supervisor Peter Parsons said keeping smokers away from the athletic fields was particularly important.
Its distasteful to see a line of butts on the ground while youre watching the kids play, he said. Its equally distasteful to have to pay town employees to pick these butts up."
The fine for smoking in the park would be $100 with the possibility of losing a town permit to use the pool and other facilities for a year.
The idea for the law was first discussed last August when Makeda James of POWR (Putnam, Orange, Westchester) Against Tobacco gave the town board a presentation on smoke-free parks. POWR Against Tobacco works to promote clean air and keep tobacco out of the hands of minors.
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