Summertime is coming, and many people will be heading out into the hot sun and to the beach. This summer, with partners IMPACT Melanoma and Bright Guard, NYC Parks is launching of a free sunscreen pilot that will allowing New York City sun-lovers to protect themselves from long hours in the sun.
NYC Parks will be installing 100 dispensers, which holds a total of 1,000 liters of SPF 30 sunscreen, that were donated by IMPACT Melanoma and Bright Guard at beaches in Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx.
“Millions flock to our beaches each summer; spending hours under the sun, recharging on our city’s glorious shoreline,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. “While being watersafe, enjoying the recreational activities and righting their minds, Parks also wants New Yorkers to be sun safe. We are excited to partner with IMPACT Melanoma and Bright Guard on this pilot program to provide free sunscreen to beach goers this summer, furthering their ability to protect their skin while on the go.”
“We are thrilled to expand on our highly successful program across the country and continue to offer sunscreen units for public and private distribution throughout the country, NYC is an exciting place for us to bring sunscreen,” said Deb Girard, Executive Director, IMPACT Melanoma. “We hope sunscreen dispensers will become as commonplace as hand sanitizers over the next few years.”
Sunscreen dispensers will be available at these beaches in the Rockaways:
- Beach 9
- Beach 17
- Beach 30
- Beach 59
- Beach 67
- Beach 86
- Beach 97
- Beach 106
- Beach 115
Bright Guard CEO Ryan Warren said, “We’re dedicated to making it easier for people to prioritize their skincare in the sun. We’ve all at one point forgotten to pack sunscreen, or the bottle ran out, or we simply couldn’t afford to buy it. With these dispensers, we are increasing access to sunscreen and, by offering it at no cost, are encouraging people to take advantage of this amenity. Sun safety should be a right and not a privilege.”
In 2016, City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer advocated for free sunscreen distribution throughout city parks and beaches.
