City of Richmond offers cooling options for residents during hot weather

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The City of Richmond will reportedly provide variety of cooling options to help residents stay safe during hot weather.

According to a city spokesperson, walk-up cooling centers will be offered at areas throughout the city through Labor Day.

The Department of Social Services will provide the following walk-up cooling centers to allow residents to get out of the heat and receive a bottle of water:

• Marshall Plaza, located at 900 E. Marshall St., which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
• Southside Plaza, located at 4100 Hull Street Rd., which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

The following facilities will be available to residents needing to cool down, although they are not formal shelters, and will accept folks during their normal hours:

• Main Library, located at 101 E. Franklin Street
• Belmont Library, located at 3100 Ellwood Avenue
• Broad Rock Library, located at 4820 Old Warwick Road
• East End Library, located at 1200 N. 25th Street
• Ginter Park Library, located at 1200 W. Brook Avenue
• Hull Street Library, located at 1400 Hull Street
• North Avenue Library, located at 2901 North Avenue
• West End Library, located at 5420 Patterson Avenue
• Westover Hills Library, located at 1408 Westover Hills Boulevard

The following Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities outdoor pools will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends:

• Battery Park Pool, located at 2719 Dupont Circle
• Blackwell Pool, located at 238 E. 14th Street
• Fairmont Pool, located at 2000 U Street
• Hotchkiss Field Pool, located at 701 E. Brookland Park Boulevard
• Powhatan Pool, located at 1000 Apperson Street
• Randolph Pool, located at 1507 Grayland Avenue
• Woodville Pool, located at 2305 Fairfield Avenue

If the temperature is expected to reach 92 degrees Fahrenheit for two or more consecutive hours during the day, the Salvation Army Extreme Heat and Weather Shelter will open.

This shelter is located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue and guests will be served lunch while in the cooling center. The shelter will remain open overnight if temperatures are predicted to be 92 degrees Fahrenheit or higher at 9 p.m. 

The city said pets, except for service animals, are not allowed at any location.