Made for Shade seeks to give you a cool spot while outdoors in the Black Hills

Anyone who has played or watched an outdoor sport before knows just how valuable a patch of shade can be on a hot summer day.
Published: Jun. 11, 2024 at 11:56 AM EDT

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Anyone who has played or watched an outdoor sport before knows just how valuable a patch of shade can be on a hot summer day. One group in Rapid City is aiming to make sure parks and fields all over the city have access to at least a little bit.

Made for Shade is an organization that started over eight years ago with the simple goal of adding shade structures to the spots that need them most in the Black Hills. One example is over at Sioux Park where Made for Shade has put up multiple structures in the tennis court area, a spot that had little to no shade prior. This isn’t just permanent placements either, Made for Shade can also provide tents for those needing a temporary solution.

The main reason for making these structures is to promote awareness about the dangers of not wearing sunscreen and the risks associated with prolonged sun exposure.

”Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and it’s very preventable so we recommend that you apply sunscreen every day and seek shade when possible between ten and four and get your skin examined if you can a concerning lesion,” Dr. Lycia Thornburg MD, FAAD and the founder of Made for Shade said.

Made for Shade is hosting a community fundraiser on June 20 and is inviting anyone interested to attend. More details on that can be found here.

Those looking to apply to be made for shade’s next shade structure can find a link to that process here.

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