It’s hot. Really hot. On Thursday, around 150 million Americans were under heat alerts, with temperatures across the Midwest exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Even those places that are used to extreme heat have never seen as hot as it is now for as long as it’s been,” President Joe Biden said Thursday, directing the Department of Labor to issue a hazard alert for workers in construction, agriculture and other outdoor jobs. “Even those who deny that we’re in the midst of a climate crisis can’t deny the impact extreme heat is having on Americans.”
Public health experts recommend communities under a heat warning, including all of Iowa, drink lots of water, utilize cars or public transportation rather than walking, and spend as much time as possible in an air-conditioned place.
Eastern Iowa residents in need of a reprieve from the heat are encouraged to utilize dozens of designated cooling sites. Browse the list below for locations and open hours.
Want to cool down while catching some sun? Plan a visit to a public pool or splash pad in Cedar Rapids, Washington, Kalona, Iowa City, North Liberty, Coralville, Black Hawk County, the Quad Cities and Anamosa. (Note: Most pools require an admission fee between $5-10. Pool hours may be affected by RAGBRAI.)
Johnson County
Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S Gilbert St, Iowa City
Open 6:15 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday
Mercer Park Aquatic Center/Scanlon Gym, 2701 Bradford Dr, Iowa City
Open 6:15 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 6:15 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday
Coralville Recreation Center, 1506 8th St
Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday
Coralville Public Library, 1401 5th St
Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday; noon-4 p.m., Sunday
North Liberty Public Library, 520 W Cherry St #9797
Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 1-4 p.m., Sunday
North Liberty Community Center, 520 W Cherry St
Open 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday & Sunday
Penn Meadows Park splash pad, 355 E Penn St, North Liberty
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Labor Day (no cost)
Linn County
Alburnett City Hall, 103 E 1st St
Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Cedar Rapids Public Library – Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd SW
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday & Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday
Cedar Rapids Lindale Mall, 4444 1st Ave NE
Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday & Saturday (Stores open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.); Sunday, noon–6 p.m. (Stores open from noon–6 p.m.)
Cedar Rapids Salvation Army, 1000 C Ave NW
Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Cedar Valley Community Support Services, 2515 18th St SW Suite A, Cedar Rapids
Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Center Point Community Center, 720 Main St
Open 1-8 p.m., Monday, Wednesday & Thursday; 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday
Central City City Hall, 137 4th St
Open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
Coggon Public Library, 216 E Main St
Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday; 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday
Ely Community Center/City Hall, 1570 Rowley St
Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday (Additional hours can be accommodated if necessary)
Ely Public Library, 1595 Dows St
Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday
St. John Lutheran Church, 1420 Walker St, Ely
Can be open from 1-9 p.m. with 24 hours notice
Fairfax City Hall, 308 80th St Ct
Open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Fairfax Public Library, 313 Vanderbilt St
Open noon-7 p.m., Monday & Tuesday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday; noon-6 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday
Hiawatha City Hall, 101 Emmons St
Open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Hiawatha Hiawatha Library, 150 West Willman St
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday
Lisbon City Hall, 115 N Washington St
Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (except all major holidays)
NOTE: If someone needs assistance after hours, they can call the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department at 319-895-6141
Marion City Hall lobby, 1225 6th Ave
Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Marion Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, 4500 N 10th St
Open 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Marion Thomas Park Safe Room, 343 Marion Blvd
Open 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Marion Police Department lobby, 6315 Hwy 151
Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Ave
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday
Mount Vernon City Hall basement, 213 1st St NW
Open 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Mt. Vernon/Lisbon Police Station, 380 Old Lincoln Highway
Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Mt. Vernon Lester Buresh Center, 855 Palisades Rd
Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday; noon-6 p.m., Sunday
Palo Community Center, 2800 Hollenbeck Rd
Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Robins Community Room, 265 S Second St
Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Springville Community Room and Public Library, 264 Broadway St
Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday
Springville United Methodist Church, 169 Broadway St
Open 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-noon, Sunday
Walker Community Room, 204 Green St
Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
Walker North Pavilion, 398 Park St
Open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
Walford Community Center, 120 5th St North
Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Black Hawk County
Mark’s Park splash pad, next to RiverLoop Amphitheatre, 225 Commercial St, Waterloo
Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily for ages 12 and under (no cost)
Young Arena, 125 Commercial St, Waterloo
Open 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday & Friday
Waterloo Center for Arts, 225 Commercial St
Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday
Waterloo Regional Airport, 2790 Livingston Ln
Open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Waterloo Public Library, 415 Commercial St
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday & Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Cedar Falls Public Library, 524 Main St
Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Wednesday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday & Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday
The Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W Seerley Blvd, Cedar Falls
Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Tuesday & Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday & Friday; 1-4 p.m., Saturday & Sunday
Cedar Falls Visitor Center, 6510 Hudson Rd
Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
Need assistance finding or accessing resources to help you beat the heat? Call 211 or visit 211iowa.org for free, confidential advice.
