Outdoor smoking ban weighed

Smokers soon may no longer be allowed to light up at Town of Poughkeepsie parks and playgrounds.
The Town Board is to vote tonight on a proposal that would post signs designating such areas as tobacco-free zones. The town has 22 parks, many of which are used by youth sports leagues.

Officials hope the signs discourage people from lighting up and protect others, especially children, from secondhand smoke. But leaders acknowledge the policy will be difficult to enforce. It is unclear whether the proposal would include fines for people found smoking in town parks.

Supervisor Patricia Myers said she hopes the signs help prevent smokers from lighting up.

"When smokers are around small children, it's not good," Myers said.

Communities across New York and America have approved outdoor smoking bans, part of an effort to improve residents' health. Hyde Park has limited smoking in its major parks and the Town of Wappinger has enacted similar measures.

Scott Santarella, president and CEO of the American Lung Association in New York, said 200 communities across the state have policies against smoking at parks, pools and playgrounds.

"It seems to be a growing trend," Santarella said, adding such policies "certainly help with extending protection against secondhand smoke."

He said about 2,500 New Yorkers die from secondhand-smoke-related problems each year.

According to the American Cancer Society's website, secondhand smoke each year in the United States leads to 46,000 deaths from heart disease in nonsmokers who live with smokers, and about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in nonsmoking adults.

Resident Doreen Tignanelli said she supports smoke-free parks, but she questioned how the measure would be enforced.

"I would really hesitate to just go up to someone and tell them they are not allowed to smoke," Tignanelli said. "I would be concerned about approaching someone directly."

Poughkeepsie Councilman Todd Tancredi, R-6th Ward, said he hoped people abide by the new policy and that fines would not be necessary.

"I hope people use common courtesy and stay out of the park when they are smoking," Tancredi said.

Myers said the signs should remind smokers to "just be respectful" when they are near nonsmokers and children at parks and ballgames.

This is not the first time officials have discussed banning smoking in parks.

Two years ago, the board debated whether to ban smoking in parks after a youth baseball official complained that smokers were lighting up during games.

The board never took action and the matter was tabled.

Tom Meyering, the town's recreation chief, said he recommended the board adopt a tobacco-free policy for the parks, rather than a more formal ordinance that would carry fines.

Meyering said the smoking issue came up again recently after the group SmokeFree Dutchess contacted town officials.