Community cooling centers open in Columbus as extreme heat wave hits
Columbus recorded a high temperature of 95 degrees Monday at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, the highest temperature in 2024 — so far.
It's going to be hot this week. Very hot. A dangerous, "feels like" and darn close to actual 100-degree sort of hot.
As such, the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department are opening up their locations to serve as community cooling centers for anyone who needs refuge from the sweltering sun.
More: Heat advisory issued for most of Ohio through Friday; thunderstorms forecast Monday
All 23 of Columbus Metropolitan Library's locations are open to the public for cooling during their normal hours this week, and the Main, Barnett, Hilltop and Northern Lights branches have extended hours for cooling, according to a CML press release.
These four branches will stay open until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday instead of their normal 6 p.m. close, and they'll be open on Wednesday during the Juneteenth holiday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. while the other library locations are closed for the holiday.
City Council and Gateway Film Center offering free movie tickets during heat wave
Columbus City Council and the Gateway Film Center are teaming up to offer two days of free movies for families looking to escape the heat. The movie tickets will include popcorn and soda, according to a news release from City Council.
The free movies will be shown on Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Gateway Film Center located at 1550 North High St. Attendees will be able to choose from the following films:
Tuesday (2024)
The Bad Guys (2022)
Jurassic Park (1993) 4K Restoration
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Matilda (1996)
The Fall Guy (2024)
Shrek (2001)
The Grab (2024) - Wednesday Only
Resistance: They Fought Back (2024) - Wednesday Only
"Extreme weather events are becoming more common; from this week's potentially record breaking heat to the tornadoes and severe storms we've been experiencing," said Councilmember Christopher Wyche. "That's why Council is working with city departments and community partners to support our residents through multiple channels during this heat wave."
Starting on June 19, five of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department's community centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until the heat wave subsides, according to a news release. These five locations are:
Dodge Community Center
Driving Park Community Center
Glenwood Community Center
Linden Community Center
Marion Franklin Community Center
Additionally, the city's public pools and "spraygrounds" will have extended hours during the heat dome. Starting June 19, all of the city's pools will be open 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the $1 admission fee will be waived until the heat goes away. The city's "spraygrounds" will be open 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the same period.
Juneteenth cooling centers
Trinity Episcopal Church at 125 E. Broad St. will open as a cooling center on Wednesday, Juneteenth, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a press release.
Four of CML's library locations and five Columbus parks and recreation centers will also be open on Juneteenth for cooling.
If you're a visual learner, here's a map of the cooling centers around Columbus.
How to avoid overheating, heat stroke during heat wave
Columbus Public Health offers some tips to beat the heat and care for yourself during the heat wave. They are:
Drink plenty of water. Do not wait until you are thirsty.
Stay in air conditioning whenever possible. If you do not have an air conditioner, use movie theatres, malls, libraries and other public places that are cool.
Avoid beverages with alcohol, caffeine and sugar because they will dehydrate you.
Eat light meals.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Avoid strenuous activities, and limit them to morning and evening hours.
Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
Check on family members, friends and neighbors.
Never leave people or pets in a closed car.
After publication, CML announced their Driving Park location would not have extended hours or be open on Juneteenth. Instead, their Barnett location will be open during that time. The story and the map have been updated to reflect that change.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus cooling centers: Find a place to chill as heat wave hits Ohio