Free Sunscreen Spreads Across Colorado

Cities and Towns, Large and small are becoming Sun Safe

NEWS RELEASE

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. March 22, 2017 – The Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department has been awarded two battery-operated sunscreen dispensers and two free cases of sunscreen from the Melanoma Foundation of New England. One dispenser will be located at the Anderson Park outdoor pool and the other at Discovery Park. With a regulated 1ml dose of sunscreen per application, users can quickly apply the proper amount of sunscreen and continue enjoying being outdoors. The sunscreen dispensers are intended for the convenience of park users who forget to pack sunscreen.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and one in five Americans will be diagnosed with the disease. Wheat Ridge is 5,459 feet above sea level and gets approximately 300 days of sunshine a year which makes proper skin protection a necessity.

The Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department wants to help reduce skin disease. “With the mild winter, there has been an increase in park usage and we want to remind residents to use sunscreen even during periods of milder temperatures,” stated Joyce Manwaring, director of the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department.

A survey conducted by the Melanoma Foundation of New England found that only 6 percent of survey respondents apply sunscreen year-round. The sunscreen dispenser at Discovery Park will be available year-round.

The dispensed sunscreen is Bright Guard Sport SPF 30 and is water resistant. The sunscreen dispensers will be serviced by the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department. For issues with the dispensers, call 303-231-1307.

About the City of Wheat Ridge

The City of Wheat Ridge, located west of Denver with a population of 33,000 residents, is home to a mix of retail/commercial businesses and unique residential neighborhoods. Wheat Ridge is a vibrant community in a prime location, providing easy access to the Denver metro area and to recreation west into the mountains. The city was recently ranked #7 of Colorado’s Top 14 Small Cities by Washington D.C.-based WalletHub’s “2016 Best Small Cities in America”. For more info about Wheat Ridge ci.wheatridge.co.us