Let The Blog Spot know what you think of the Wheaton Park District’s recent decision to allow smokers to eat at outside tables at the new Arrowhead Golf Club’s clubhouse.

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Wheaton parks board allows lighting up at Arrowhead clubhouse despite dissent
By James Fuller, Daily Herald Staff Writer - Posted Friday, May 19, 2006

If you’re a smoker, the Wheaton Park District is kicking your butt outside if you want to eat at the brand-new Arrowhead clubhouse.

The move trumps a staff recommendation and the views of two parks commissioners who wanted to ban smoking outright.

Current policy makes all park district buildings smoke-free. It’s a bit fuzzier on what occurs outside those buildings. It’s not unheard of to catch a golfer lighting up after teeing off.

Accommodating smokers becomes even trickier when it’s associated with food, Golf Director Bruce Stoller said during a meeting with commissioners this week.

As support for his desire to make the outside dining areas of the new clubhouse smoke-free, he offered survey results from Zagat, a national restaurant rating service, showing customers eat out more often at smoke-free restaurants.

The majority of commissioners didn’t agree, voting 5-2 that smokers should be able to light up at the outdoor tables. Those against the smoking ban — Jeff Cook, Steve Fieweger, Mark Schobel, Jerry Nichilo and Dave Blankenship — worried about losing part of the market by not providing space for smokers.

Nichilo said the clubhouse will draw business gatherings where smokers are sure to be present, including his own clientele. Not having a smoking area could be a drawback in that scenario, he said.

“What am I going to say if someone wants to smoke? Meeting’s over?” he said.

That particular comment and others similar to it by commissioners supporting a smoking area drew the ire of resident Chris Conroy.

The commissioners “may need a reminder that they represent the entire (park district) community and not just the guests they bring to the club,” wrote Conroy in an e-mail to parks Director Rob Robinson.

“It just seemed that it was a perfect opportunity for the board to make a really powerful statement at a time when secondhand smoke is a major health concern,” Conroy said in a follow-up interview Thursday. “We are a wellness facility, after all.”

Commissioners Paul Fullerton and Jack Breese expressed similar views in their two dissenting votes. Both said the smoking area would detract from the idea of a family-oriented clubhouse and the overall health mission of the park district.

However, a quick survey of nearby golf courses shows the Arrowhead smoking policy puts it in line with competing clubhouse eateries.

The Fairways at Cantigny in Wheaton and the clubhouses at Oak Meadows in Addison, Green Meadows in Westmont and Maple Meadows in Wood Dale all allow smoking outside, but not inside. A couple of clubhouses, including those at Glendale Lakes in Glendale Heights and White Pines near Bensenville, allow smoking inside as well as on the patio.

Wheaton parks commissioners agreed in their vote the smoking decision would be revisited after a couple months if problems arise.