Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy launched a new initiative to install automatic sunscreen dispensers at parks facilities across the entire county. The first sunscreen dispenser was unveiled today at the Watervliet Veterans Memorial Park alongside Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli. The program is a collaboration with IMPACT Melanoma, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, New York State Public Health Corps, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Dr. Robert Shoss and other local partners. Recognizing that the risk of skin cancer increases with age, the Albany County Department for Aging and Commissioner Deb Riitano provided the funding for the first phase of the project.

The announcement coincides with Melanoma Awareness Month. During the unveiling, County Executive McCoy was recognized for his outstanding leadership in promoting skin cancer prevention with the Sun Safe Leadership Award from IMPACT Melanoma. Albany County is the first county to receive a Sun Safe Leadership Award. Mayor Sheehan was also presented with a Sun Safe Leadership Award for the City of Albany.

“Estimates show that more than 97,600 new melanomas will be diagnosed this year alone, and nearly 8,000 Americans will lose their lives to this deadly form of skin cancer. However, melanomas are preventable by being proactive and wearing sunscreen, which is why I’m committed to installing these automated sunscreen dispensers in every corner of Albany County,” said County Executive McCoy. “I want to thank IMPACT Melanoma and others for their partnership in protecting our residents, and I’m proud that Albany County can be the first county to receive the Sun Safe Leadership Award.”

The first phase of this project involves placing more than 20 sunscreen dispensers in as many separate locations in the weeks ahead. Dispenser sites will be found within nearly every Albany County municipality, including the City of Albany, the Town of Colonie, the Town of Guilderland, the Town of Bethlehem, the City of Watervliet, the Village of Ravena, the Village Green Island, the Town of Westerlo, the Town of Berne, the Village of Voorheesville and the Village of Altamont (the full list of park locations can be found below).

The second phase of the project will add more dispensers to the list in order to reach every municipality in Albany County. Additionally, skin cancer prevention and educational programming will be expanded through this initiative by having Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County educators use a variety of IMPACT Melanoma's award-winning programs, such as “Practice Safe Skin,” “No Sun for Babies,” “Safe Skin at Work,” and more.

This initiative was introduced to Albany County by Hesan Waly, a community educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County and a graduate fellow with the New York State Public Health Corps. This has been done in collaboration with Dr. Robert Shoss, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in the Capital District for nearly 47 years and Vice President of the New York State Dermatology Society.

“Throughout my career as a dermatologist, as well as in my role as Vice President of the New York State Dermatology Society, I have seen first-hand the ravages of chronic sun exposure, and those certainly include melanomas and other skin cancers,” said Dr. Robert Shoss. “I am pleased to participate in such a worthy project that will help protect the community we reside in by providing greater access to sunscreen and educational resources for the general public."


First Round Sunscreen Dispenser Locations:

Beltrone Senior Center Outdoor Patio (Colonie), Berne Town Park (Berne), Capital Hills Golf Course/Pickleball Court (Albany), Elm Avenue Town Park Delmar (Bethlehem), Hoffman Park (Albany), Lincoln Park and Pool (Albany), Mater Christi Park and Pool (Albany), Mohawk River Park Pool (Colonie), Paine Street Park (Green Island), Pine Bush Preserve (Albany), Ravena Village Park/Pool (Coeymans), Ridgefield Park (Albany), Six Mile Water Works (Albany), Swift Road Park (Voorheesville), The Crossings (Colonie), Veterans Memorial Park and Pool (Watervliet), Washington Park (Albany), Westerlo Veterans Park (Westerlo). 

More about IMPACT Melanoma:

IMPACT is a national non-profit organization dedicated to working to reduce the incidence of skin cancer and melanoma. Committed to skin cancer prevention and early detection, we provide a variety of award-winning programs which aim to raise awareness and educate the public about skin cancer, as well as support services for those struggling with the disease. To get involved or learn more, visit: www.IMPACTmelanoma.org.