STAYING SUN SAFE — Hannah Hebrock of the Hancock County Family Support Center puts the final touches on a sunscreen dispenser that she put up in New Cumberland City Park Monday morning. Chester City Park and Clarke Family playground also have dispensers in place. -- Stephanie Ujhelyi

CHESTER — Five local parks or playgrounds will receive sunscreen stations courtesy of Hancock County Family Support Center and the Hancock County Partners in Prevention.

Three of the promised five dispensers were up as of Monday afternoon, explained Hannah Hebrock, director of the HCFSC.

The dispensers currently are in Chester City Park, Clarke Field playground in Newell, and New Cumberland City Park near the playground equipment.

The Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation has given its blessings for two more stations to be put up in its park system – one in Marland Heights Park and another in Starvaggi Memorial Park.

Hebrock gave credit for the idea to individuals in Lewis County, W.Va. She said a family non-profit there installed such stations, and HCFSC was so impressed, it borrowed the idea for Hancock County.

After putting them in their location, Hebrock said that she will periodically check the dispensers during the summer to make sure they are full of SPF 30 sunscreen and the batteries are not dead. The sunscreen should be applied to any uncovered areas every two hours.

Once winter is on the way, she said the dispensers will be picked up, winterized and stored until they are put back out in the spring.

For information about HCFSC, which is located in the Chester Municipal Building, or any of its services for families, call (304) 748-7850.