With excessive heat warnings in place, it's important to stay cool. For those without air conditioning, a variety of locations are opening their doors and letting people cool off.
Johnson County, Kan.
Salvation Army: 420 E. Santa Fe, Olathe, Kan.
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, in cooperation with the Johnson County Library, encourages citizens who need a place to cool down during hot days to visit one of 13 library branches. All of these facilities will be available during normal business hours.
According to the Johnson County government’s website, libraries offer many services in addition to a cool place to rest and restore. You can read books, magazines and newspapers, or access the Internet. Library hours vary by location. Call (913) 826-4600 to check hours of operation for your nearest library branch, or visit the Library website at www.jocolibrary.org.
Mid-Continent Public Library system
All 30 branches of the Mid-Continent Public Library system are acting as cooling centers during this hot summer. All branches are equipped with air conditioning, free computer access and Wi-Fi, and refreshing water fountains. Users are encouraged to get a library card, but the doors are open to all members of the public.
Locations are scattered throughout Jackson, Platte and Clay counties. To find the one nearest you, visit http://www.mymcpl.org/locations.
Wyandotte County Libraries:
Argentine Branch, 2800 Metropolitan, Kansas City, Kan.
8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Main Branch: 625 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kan.
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Wyandotte West Branch: 1737 North 82 Street, Kansas City, Kan.
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Turner Community Library: 831 South 55 Street, Kansas City, Kan.
Noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday
Closed on Sunday
Jackson County
Blue Springs
Vesper Hall Senior Center: 400 N.W. Vesper Road
816-228-0181
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday
Buckner
Buckner Senior Center: 611 E. Sibley
816-650-4018
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Grandview
Booth Manor Senior Center: 611 E. 129th St.
816-966-8300
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday
Grandview
Salvation Army: 6111 E. 129th St.
816-966-8300
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Independence
Fairmont Community Center: 608 S. Ash
816-254-8334
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Independence
Palmer Center: 218-A N. Pleasant
816-325-6200
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday
Independence
Roger T. Sermon Community Center: 201 N. Dodgion
816-325-7370
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Independence
Salvation Army: 14700 E. Truman Rd.
816-252-3200
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Cold drinks and snacks available.
Lee’s Summit
The Lee’s Summit VFW Post 5789: 329 SE Douglas
816-525-5789
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Restrooms and kitchen. Lunch is served.
Kansas City locations listed below
Christ the King Senior Center: 8510 Wornall
816-363-4888
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday
Don Bosco Senior Center: 580 Campbell
816-421-3160
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday
Guadalupe Center: 1015 Avenida Cesar Chavez
816-421-1015
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday
Hillcrest Community Center: 10401 Hillcrest Rd.
816-784-7000
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
Showers, ice machine and computers available FREE.
Holy Cross Church Senior Center: 5106 St. John Ave.
816-231-8864
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday
Mohart Multipurpose Center: 3200 Wayne Ave.
816-784-4511
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Saint Louis Senior Center
5930 Swope Parkway
Kansas City, Missouri 64130
816-333-1204
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday
Salvation Army Bellefontaine: 3013 E. Ninth St.
816-483-8484
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Cold drinks and snacks available.
Salvation Army Blue Valley: 6618 E. Truman Rd.
816-241-6488
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Cold drinks and snacks available.
Salvation Army Westport: 500 W. 39th St.
816-753-6040
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Cold drinks and snacks available.
Oak Grove Senior Center: 1901 Broadway
816-690-8462
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Clay County
Salvation Army Northland: 4300 N.E. Parvin Rd.
816-452-5663
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Cold drinks and snacks available.
The Community Center: 1600 South Withers Road, Liberty, Mo. 64068
(816) 439-4360
The Community Center lobby will be open as a cooling center when temperatures reach 90 degrees or greater during regular hours.
Mon. – Thurs. – 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri. – 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat. – 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sun. – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
People are encouraged to bring their necessary personal items like medicines and ready-to-eat snacks.
Cass County
The Belton Police Department will open its community room to the public as a cooling center. The room, off the lobby of the station located at 7001 E 163rd St., will be open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on days when the temperature is 90 degrees or higher. Please pass this information on to those you know that may need to make use of the facility. Also remember to check on the elderly during these high heat days.
Platte County
Line Creek Community Center: 5940 N.W. Waukomis Dr., Kansas City, Mo.
816-513-0760
7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
12:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Kansas City, Mo., Community Pools
Brush Creek Community Center Pool: 3801 Brush Creek Boulevard
1-7 p.m. Monday
Budd Pool, Esplanade and Denver Avenue
1-7 p.m. Tuesday
The Grove Pool, Truman Road and Benton Boulevard
1-7 p.m. Thursday
Swope Pool at Swope Park: 67th Street and Lewis Road
1-7 p.m. Wednesday
1-5 p.m. Sunday
Neighborhood Swimming Pools
Pools are open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- Arbor Villa Park, 66th Terrace and Main Street
- Ashland Park, 23rd and Elmwood streets
- Gillham Pool, 41st and Gillham streets
- West Terrace Park, 16th and Jarboe streets
Greater Kansas City YMCA
All YMCA of Greater Kansas City locations are open to the community during excessive heat warnings. Anyone may cool off at the Y for free on that day, just be prepared to show a photo ID when you arrive. Centers have different hours and pool availability, so check your nearest center first. To find a location near you, call (816) 561-9622.