Kansas City is under a heat advisory, as temperatures reach dangerous levels and heat indexes approach the triple digits.
For residents without easy access to air-conditioning, the Kansas City area offers a variety of places to cool down for free. Unlike previous summers, where many locations were closed to the public due to the COVID-19, local YMCAs, library branches and community centers are now open as cooling centers.
In Kansas City, Johnson County and Wyandotte County, library systems are all offering a place to rest, rehydrate and get away from the heat.
Mary Olive Joyce is the director of library outreach for the Kansas City Public Library. She said residents can visit the libraries to enjoy the air conditioning, peruse the library’s collection and take advantage of other services. She said the libraries are welcome to all during the normal hours of operation.
“We are welcoming in a safe place for individuals that are seeking a safe place to be cool, and to be during the heat of the day,” Joyce said.
Here are some of the available cooling centers during this week's heat advisory:
All YMCA of Greater Kansas City locations are open to the community when the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning. More information on locations and hours here.
Johnson County, Kansas
The Johnson County Library system is offering all of their 14 libraries as cooling centers. A list of branches and operating hours is available here.
Wyandotte County, Kansas
Wyandotte County is offering a variety of community centers, pools and splash parks as cooling centers.
Kansas City, Missouri
All of the Mid-Continent Public Libraries and Kansas City Public Libraries are offering their branches as cooling centers. All cooling services are available during normal hours of operation.
Community center locations:
- Brush Creek Community Center, 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd.
- Garrison Community Center, 1124 E. 5th St.
- Gregg/Klice Community Center, 1124 E 5th Street
- Hillcrest Community Center, 10401 Hillcrest Road
- Kansas City North Community Center, 3920 N.E. Antioch Road
- Line Creek Community Center, 5940 N.W. Waukomis Drive
- Marlborough Community Center, 8200 The Paseo Blvd.
- Southeast Community Center, 4201 E. 63rd St.
- Tony Aguirre Community Center, 2050 W. Pennway St.
- Westport Roanoke Community Center, 3601 Roanoke Road
Free spray park locations:
- Blue Valley Park Sprayground, East 23rd Street and Topping Avenue
- Central Park Sprayground, Linwood Boulevard and Bales Avenue
- Douglas Park Sprayground, 2632 Jarboe Street
- Gillham Sprayground, East 41st Street and Gillham Avenue
- Harmony Park Sprayground, East 10th Street and Agnes Avenue
- Loose Park Sprayground, West 52nd Terrace and Summit Street
- Lykins Square Playground, East 8th Street and Jackson Avenue
- Parade Park Sprayground, East 17th Terrace and The Paseo Boulevard
- Spring Valley Park Sprayground, East 28th Street and Spring Valley Park Road
- Sunnyside Park Sprayground, 8255 Summit Street
Independence, Missouri
Independence has offered Roger T. Sermon Community Center, 201 N. Dodgion Ave., as a cooling center from Tuesday, July 19 until Friday, July 22, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Clay County, Missouri
- The Salvation Army, Northland Location, 5306 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City
- North Kansas City YMCA, 1999 Iron Street, North Kansas City
- Salvation Army, 108 W Broadway Street, Excelsior Springs
- Liberty Community Center, 1600 S Withers Road, Liberty
Here are some pointers about how to avoid heat-related injury:
- Stay in air conditioning as much as possible.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid prolonged periods in the sun.
- Check on relatives and neighbors.
- Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
- If possible, reschedule strenuous outdoor activity for early morning or late evening.
- Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
- Be familiar with the symptoms of health exhaustion or heat stroke.
- If you or someone near you experiences heat stroke, move to shade or air conditioning immediately and call 911.
It is important to know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Heat stroke can be life threatening. Physical symptoms include high body temperature, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and passing out, as well as hot, red dry or damp skin.
For further heat related safety tips, visitready.gov/heat.
