Port Chester Moves Closer to Smoking Restrictions at Local Parks

Port Chester is moving closer to putting into place new smoking restrictions at the village's parks.

While the village is not banning smoking at its park, the village Board of Trustees has given its OK on a compromise that would prohibit smoking at playground and ball field areas of local parks.

The Port Chester Community Cares Coalition proposed banning smoking at local parks, but after meetings with the village Park Commission the modified proposal was developed.

Chelsea Bodansky, coordinator of the community coalition, said her group has been visiting local parks to scout out specific spots where "No Smoking" signs would be installed. Bodansky gave a presentation to the Board of Trustees on Monday night showing the placement of signs.

Mayor Dennis Pilla said Bodansky could work directly with village staff members to finalize details of placement for the signs. Village officials said that once the signage details are worked out, the Board of Trustees would be given a resolution on the new anti-smoking regulations for their final approval.

Pilla noted that the coalition's efforts to curb smoking at Port Chester parks was an initiative sparked by Port Chester High School students.

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