City Councilor Wants Sunscreen Dispensers in Parks, Playgrounds

A Boston city councilor is hoping to bring a hint of the beach to the city's public areas.

The Boston Globe reports Matt O'Malley filed a proposal for this Wednesday's council meeting to install free sunscreen dispensers at all 220 public parks and playgrounds in Boston.

O'Malley says the project could be paid for through a partnership with a sunscreen brand or a company seeking to raise skin cancer awareness. The American Cancer Society says about 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year.

O'Malley says his proposal is a real public good that can be achieved with "little to no cost to the taxpayers."

Sunscreen dispensers retail for up to $210. It would cost roughly $46,000 to buy one for each of Boston's parks and playgrounds.