Verona Parks to Become Smoke-Free Zones

Verona Borough parks will be deemed smoke-free zones.

Last week, council approved a resolution prohibiting smoking at all borough parks and playgrounds, including Riverbank Park and the parklet near the borough building.

The borough has teamed up with Tobacco Free Allegheny—an organization with a mission to change the community norms surrounding tobacco, making it uncommon to see, use or be negatively affected by tobacco or tobacco smoke pollution—for the Young Lungs at Play effort.

The goal of Young Lungs at Play is to reduce childrens' exposure to second-hand smoke, as well as pollution of cigarette butts in the parks.

Brittany Huffman, a program assistant with Tobacco Free Allegheny, said the organization would provide the signs for free to the borough.

"I think this is a great idea," Councilwoman Rhoda Gemellas-Worf said.

Solicitor Craig Alexander said many communities have been adopting similar resolutions.

Some nearby communities that also are a part of Young Lungs at Play include Allegheny County Parks, Forest Hills, Monroeville, Harmar, Springdale, Pitcairn and the Penn Hills YMCA.

"This is a positive move," Alexander said.

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