FALCONER - The Falconer Village Board recently approved tobacco-free zones for all Falconer Village parks and playground areas.
"Having all our parks designated as tobacco-free is the right thing to do. It helps protect our children from secondhand smoke and keeps the park clean and beautiful," said Sam Ognibene, Falconer public works superintendent.
The following Falconer locations are now designated as tobacco-free: Falconer Park on Phetteplace, Lions Memorial Field and Kingsley Field on South Phetteplace Street, Davis Park on Main Street, Williams Park on Williams Street and Coleson Park on Coleson Drive.
Article Photos
From left are Sam Ognibene, Falconer public works superintendent; Laurie Adams, Tri-County Tobacco Free program director; and David Krieg, Falconer mayor.
"The village does an outstanding job to keep our parks an enjoyable place to play," said David Krieg, Falconer mayor. "The new policy will help keep our parks clean and reduce litter. It only makes sense that we do everything we can to make sure the park is a safe and healthy place for children to play. I want to thank Laurie Adams and the Tri-County Tobacco Free Program for helping with signage and our village board and employees for working together to make this happen."
"Creating tobacco-free parks and play areas sends a positive message to our youth," said Laurie Adams, Tri-County Tobacco Free program director. "Hundreds of parks and playgrounds across the state are creating tobacco-free policies to protect our children. Cigarette butts, if ingested, are very harmful to children. Also, secondhand smoke is harmful regardless of where you are exposed to it. If you can smell it, it is harming you, especially children. We applaud the Falconer Village Board, Mayor David Krieg and the village staff for establishing the tobacco-free policy and installing the signs. We thank all adults who model positive, healthy behaviors by not smoking in Falconer's parks and playground."
For more information about creating tobacco-free parks, playgrounds or outdoor areas, contact the Tri-County Tobacco Free Program at 665-2310.