While you’re having fun in the sun, state officials want you to be protected. As many as three million visitors are expected at Pennsylvania’s state parks this summer, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has you covered — literally!
Pennsylvania expanded its free sunscreen program this season to 52 of its 124 state parks, including several within a two-hour drive from Philly: Neshaminy, Tyler, Ridley Creek, Marsh Creek, Nolde Forest, French Creek, Ralph Stover, and Nockamixon. Battery-operated dispensers are mounted on poles and information boards in convenient locations and supply SPF 30 sunscreen.
Health department officials say application of a sunscreen with a protection factor of 30 or higher can help prevent skin cancer. An estimated one in 40 Pennsylvanians will be diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetime.
A DCNR spokesperson said this is the eighth year for the program, which began in parks with waterfront areas like beaches and swimming pools, as well as counties with higher rates of melanoma. The sunscreen is now available at campsites, marinas, and other attractions.
