NYC Park to Be First to Install Free Sunscreen Dispensers

What to Know

  • Boston and West Palm Beach offer free sunscreen in many public places
  • Comptroller Scott Stringer has proposed a similar move for all public parks, playground and beaches in the city
  • The number of adults treated for skin cancer each year rose nearly 40 percent between 2006 and 2011

Randall's Island Park will be the first in New York City to install dispensers providing visitors free and accessible sunscreen. 

The Randall's Island Park Alliance, which made the announcement Monday, is teaming up with Bright Guard LLC and the Melanoma Foundation of New England to put 25 sunscreen dispensers in the park as part of a pilot program. 

The program will run from Labor Day to November and, if it is successful, it will continue. The pilot mirrors similar successful programs in Boston and West Palm Beach. 

“Over 3.5 million people visit Randall’s Island Park each year and over 700,000 children play sports on our many athletic fields," Aimee Boden, president of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance and NYC Park Administrator for Randall’s Island Park, said in a statement. "It is important to make sure that everyone has access to appropriate skin protection." 

In June, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said free sunscreen dispensers should be implemented at all city public parks, beaches, pools and playgrounds to help reduce the risk of skin cancer. 

Stringer said the dispensers could be installed "at virtually no cost" to the city through public-private partnerships. He said the number of adults treated for skin cancer each year rose nearly 40 percent between 2006 and 2011. 

Stringer says research shows that 30-plus SPF sunscreen, which is what Randall's Island Park will use, can provide necessary protections against the sun's harmful rays and drastically reduce the risk of skin cancer.

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