PERU — The Town of Peru will post no-smoking signs at its parks in an effort to prevent people from lighting up in areas used by children.
“We have heard residents mention that people are smoking (within town parks) where children are playing,” said Town Supervisor Peter Glushko.
“We want to set a positive example for children and agreed that all parks will be no-smoking areas.”
Councilors unanimously approved a motion to post the parks as no-smoking areas; Councilman Brandy McDonald was absent from the meeting.
Superintendent of Water and Sewer Greg Timmons will search for appropriate signs to purchase and then will place them at Little Ausable Park, Sullivan Park and Laphams Mills Park, Glushko said.
“Hopefully, this will be a self-policing effort,” Glushko said, adding that it will be difficult for the town to actually enforce no-smoking areas.
“If people are going to smoke (in those areas), they need to realize that their children and other children watching. Children look up to adults. We need to set good examples.”
The smoking ban will include activities such as the Sunday evening concerts, he added.
“We know that it’s a difficult habit to kick,” he said. “If people want to smoke (during the concert), they can walk up and out of the park for a minute. But there are kids at the concerts as well. We’d like people to refrain (from smoking) while in the parks.”
No-smoking signs will also be placed in the newly created Heyworth Mason Park across Route 22 from the Little Ausable Park, he added.
Glushko did not know when the signs would be ready for display.
Email Jeff Meyers:
jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
