OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Visitors to Veterans Memorial Park in Old Orchard Beach will no longer be allowed to light up a cigarette or other smoking materials.

Veterans Memorial Park located at First Avenue, is a seven-acre public park across the street from the Amtrak train platform. It is used by both locals and visitors, and includes a dog park, veterans’ memorials, basketball and tennis courts, a gazebo, a petanque court and a playground. During the summer, nightly flag raising services honoring deceased veterans are held at the park.

Many events take place at the park including an annual car show, a Scottish festival and a summer concert series.

The Old Orchard Beach Town Council voted unanimously, with Councilor Jay Kelley absent, to approve a new ordinance banning smoking at Veterans Memorial Park at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The ordinance bans all smoking materials, including cigarettes, cigars pipes and electronic smoking devices.

Those who fail to comply to the smoking ban will receive a warning for the first offense. If the individual breaks the regulation again, they face a fine of $50 for the offense, and $150 for subsequent offenses.

The new ordinance also prohibits open fires or the use of grills in Veterans Memorial Park without town approval through a special event permit.

The ordinance was drafted after a suggestion from the Veterans Memorial Park Committee.

The ordinance states it is intended to “protect, preserve, and promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents and visitors that use the Town of Old Orchard Beach’s Veterans Memorial Park,” and to decrease exposure of park visitors to second-hand smoke.

According to town documents, the town’s decision to ban grills without a special permit in the park resulted from the misuse of the disposal of ashes after using grills.

—Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.