Photo by Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates

Good thing those metal orbs were removed in Brooklyn Bridge Park, because yesterday as temperatures reached 102 degrees, certain city surfaces were scorching hot! This photo was taken at the Artificial Turf Field in Manhattan's Booker T. Washington Playground yesterday, showing a 171 degree surface at 11:46 a.m. Geoffrey Croft of the NYC Park Advocates sent the photo along, noting that park surface temperatures are reaching record highs.

Croft & Co. tested temps at city parks yesterday and more than a dozen reached 170 degrees or more, which he says is higher than any temp he's taken in the past three years. He added, "Temperatures on black rubber playground safety surfacing were recorded at over 160 degrees." The surfaces are likely to be just as high today, so the NYC Park Advocates have release the following tips:

• Avoid playgrounds with black safety surfacing, unless they have complete shade coverage.
  
• Avoid metal surfaces like slides.
  
• Avoid artificial turf fields in the sun.
  
• Drink lots of liquids.
  
• Use spray showers, pools and water features.
  
• Seek shade.
  
• Participate in non-strenuous activities.