Smoking banned at Pinchot Park beach

A section of Gifford Pinchot State Park will become a smoke- and vape-free zone starting next week.

Signs will be installed on the eastern side of the public beach and swimming area designating it a Clean Air Beach, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The ban on the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes and e-cigarettes will be in effect starting Saturday. Smoking will still be permitted in other areas of the park.

The Clean Air Beach program started out as a pilot program in 2013 and was tested at a beach in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County.

Since then, the program has become permanent and has expanded to 20 state parks.