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The New York City Parks Department recently announced it will adopt a pilot program proposed by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer in June 2016 to outfit City beaches with free public sunscreen dispensers. Comptroller Stringer’s proposal was outlined in a policy report, “Sunscreen in the City,” which detailed the link between sun exposure and skin cancer, and laid out a series of ideas the City could implement to provide free sunscreen in public places at virtually no cost to taxpayers.

With skin cancer cases on the rise, the new pilot program launched as a partnership between the City, IMPACT Melanoma, and Bright Guard will for the first time ever install 67 sunscreen dispensers at City beaches. The free sunscreen dispensers that will be installed by the Parks Department were donated to the City by its partners, which will support the pilot program for two years.

“This proposal is a common-sense, cost-effective way to protect the health of New Yorkers,” said Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “With this new innovative program, we’re making our public spaces safer, healthier, and more accessible for families and children. It’s smart public policy that will boost quality of life. I’m thrilled to see this pilot move forward. The Parks Department is stepping up on an important issue. I want to thank Commissioner Silver for his leadership.”

Between 2006 and 2011, the average number of adults treated for skin cancer annually grew nearly 40 percent. Each year, skin cancer takes the lives of more than 10,000 Americans, and medical costs related to this disease add up to more than $8.1 billion. Children are particularly sensitive to UV rays and vulnerable to sunburn and the associated increased risk of skin cancer. Up to 80 percent of an individual’s total lifetime sun exposure takes place before the age of 18 and correlates with skin cancer cases later in life.

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