Stay cool Philly: Find your nearest cooling center during the intense heat
As temperatures climb, Philadelphia's libraries, recreation centers, senior centers, and public pools transform into lifesaving cooling centers. Discover where to find relief in your neighborhood.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/MBS3MOBDDRDNTHRSZEB5EDC6FI.jpg)
As temperatures rise across the Philadelphia area, local communities are finding ways to beat the heat. Heat indices are expected to reach 105 degrees on Friday, combining heat and humidity.
To keep people cool en masse during citywide heat emergencies, the city turns to go-to resources it already has: libraries, recreation centers, senior centers, and public pools. Some of these spaces become official cooling center when a heat emergency is declared.
The city is more likely to declare an emergency in May and June than in July and August because people are more acclimated to the heat in the hotter months. Early in the season, the city will declare an emergency if the temperature is expected to reach 101 degrees or higher for two consecutive days, or 98 degrees or higher for three consecutive days. Later in the season, a heat emergency is triggered if the forecast predicts 106 degrees or higher for two consecutive days, or 103 degrees or higher for three consecutive days.
Philadelphia provides a map showing residents where they can find relief from rising temperatures, and the following locations are available across the region to keep individuals safe from the heat:
Libraries
Philadelphia libraries offer a place to cool off . The following locations serve as cooling centers during heat emergencies, but other locations can be found here.
Fumo Family Library: π2437 S. Broad St., π 215-685-1758, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Joseph E. Coleman Regional Library: π 68 W. Chelten Ave., π 215-685-2150, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Lillian Marrero Library: π 601 W. Lehigh Ave., π 215-685-9794, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Logan Library: π1333 Wagner Ave., π 215-685-9156, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Oak Lane Library: π 6614 N. 12th St., π 215-685-2848, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Lovett Memorial Library: π6945 Germantown Ave., π 215-685-2095, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Northeast Regional Library: π2228 Cottman Ave., π 215-685-0522 (closed until June 28), β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Widener Library:π2808 W. Lehigh Ave., π 215-685-9799, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Cecil. B Moore Library: π2320 Cecil B. Moore Ave., π 215-685-2766, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Romanita G. de Rodriguez Library: π600 W. Girard Ave., π 215-686-1768, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Lucien E. Blackwell Regional Library: π125 S. 52nd St., π 215-685-7431, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Haverford Library: π5543 Haverford Ave., π 215-685-1964, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Walnut Street West Library: π201 S. 40th St., π 215-685-7671, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Charles Santore Library: π932 S. 7th St., π 215-686-1766, β Open until 7 p.m. during heat emergencies
Recreation centers
Philadelphiaβs over 150 recreation centers are open daily for youth programming, summer camps, pools, playgrounds, and more. The following locations are official cooling centers:
East Passyunk Recreation Center: π1025 Mifflin St., π 215-685-0008, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Barry Recreation Center: π1800 Johnston St., π 215-685-1886, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Smith Recreation Center: π2100 S 26th St., π 215-685-1898, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Christy Recreation Center: π738 S 55th St. π 215-685-1997, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sayre Recreation Center: π5835 Spruce St., π 215-685-1993, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
West Mill Creek Recreation Center: π5100 Parrish St., π 215-685-0186, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
8th & Diamond Playground: π800 Diamond St., π 215-685-2761, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Penrose Memorial Playground: π1101 W Susquehanna Ave., π 215-685-2711, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dendy Recreation Center: π1555 N 10th St., π 215-685-2763, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MLK Recreation Center: π2101 Cecil B. Moore Ave., π 215-685-2733, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mander Playground: π2140 N. 33rd St., π 215-685-3894, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Nelson Recreation Center: π2500 N. 3rd St., π 215-685-9890, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Waterloo Playground: π2501 N. Howard St., π 215-685-9891, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Scanlon Playground: π1099 E. Venango St, Philadelphia, PA 19134, π 215-685-9893, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pleasant Playground: π6757 Chew Ave., π N/A, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lonnie Young Recreation Center: π1100 E. Chelten Ave., π 215-685-2236, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Stenton Park Recreation Center: π4600 N. 16th St., π 215-685-9147, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
McCreesh Playground Recreation Center: π6744 Regent St., π 215-685-2696, β 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Senior centers
Philadelphiaβs 28 senior centers are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following locations are designated cooling centers:
Northeast Older Adult Center: π8101 Bustleton Ave., π 215-685-0576, β 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
Martin Luther King Older Adult Center: π2100 Cecil B. Moore Ave., π 215-685-2715, β 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
South Philadelphia Older Adult Center: π1430 East Passyunk Ave., π 215-685-1697, β 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
Juniata Park Older Adult Center: π1251 E. Sedgley Ave., π 215-685-1491, β 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
West Oak Lane Senior Center: π7210-18 Ogontz Ave., π 215-685-3515, β 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
To cool off for free this summer, visit one of the more than 100 public pools or spraygrounds throughout the city. Spraygrounds in more than 90 locations started operating Memorial Day weekend, while the cityβs pools began opening on a rolling basis Monday. By the end of the week, 25 pools will be open. See a list of pools opening this week.