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Pocono News Section
Public Parks Go Smoke-Free in Edwardsville
Public Parks Go Smoke-Free in Edwardsville - Monday, April 7, 2008 at 4:40PM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Apr 7, 2008 @04:40pm EST
EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY - The borough of Edwardsville is taking steps to make its three public parks safer for kids. Signs were posted Monday afternoon telling people it is illegal to smoke in the borough's public parks.
Edwardsville is now the second community in Luzerne County to make its public parks smoke free. It follows in the footsteps of Hazleton, but many more communities may be on the way.
"It makes the parks healthier, reduces exposure to secondhand smoke and it's not as dirty with the cigarette butts and things like that around," Melissa Rehrig with Steps to a HealthierPA Luzerne County said.
Signs saying "Young Lungs at Play" were posted Monday afternoon to tell people about the change. Brian Keenan is a smoker who supports the idea.
"As a smoker, I believe in a public park, especially where kids are at, I don't believe there should be any smoking in the park where the kids are," Keenan said.
Not everyone shares those same feelings.
"It's outside, so why should it be smoke free? It's not closed in. It's out in the open. The winds blowing, so whats that hurting," Jack Getz of Edwardsville said.
Borough leaders say the best part about the smoking changes are that they are free. Workers with Steps to a HealthierPA Luzerne County, which helped Edwardsville enact the ban, say many other communities in Luzerne County are looking to follow suit as well.
"No one wants a 4-5 year old kid starting to smoke cigarettes. They're there to play and have a good time. Why should they be exposed to secondhand smoke?" Rehrig said.
West Pittston is the next community in Luzerne County that may adopt a smoking ban in its public parks.
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