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.
Central 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, and if you need transport to a cooling station, take a free ride on a DART bus through Friday, July 28.
Want to cool down while catching some sun? Plan a visit to a public pool or splash pad in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Clive, Ankeny, Altoona, Norwalk and Ames. Most charge between $5-10 for entry, with special rates for families and/or season passes.
Des Moines
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa – Main Location, 5452 NE 22nd St
Open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Creative Visions, 1343 13th St
Open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
East Side Library, 2559 Hubbell Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Forest Avenue Library, 1326 Forest Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fourmile Community Recreation Center, 3711 Easton Blvd
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:45 p.m.
Franklin Avenue Library, 5000 Franklin Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Merle Hay Mall, 3850 Merle Hay Rd
Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
Nahas Aquatic Center, 1101 Porter Ave
Open Monday-Friday, 1-6:30 p.m. (1-7:30 p.m. from July 29-Aug. 13); Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
North Side Library, 3516 Fifth Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Northwest Aquatic Center, 4915 Ave
Open Monday-Friday, 1-6:30 p.m. (1-7:30 p.m. from July 29-Aug. 13); Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Norwoodville Senior Center, 3077 NE 46th Ave
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pioneer Columbus Community Recreation Center, 2100 SE 5th St
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:45 p.m.
Polk County Health Department, 2100 SE 5th St
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
South Side Library, 1111 Porter Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
South Ridge Mall, 1111 E Army Post Rd
Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Teachout Aquatic Center, 2601 Hubbell Ave
Open Monday-Friday, 1-6:30 p.m. (1-7:30 p.m. from July 29-Aug. 13); Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Wellmark YMCA, 501 Grand Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 5 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
West Des Moines
American Legion Park Sprayground, 301 Vine St
Open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Jordan Creek Town Center, 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
West Des Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ames
Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Community Center, 515 Clark Ave
Open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Sunday, 2-8 p.m.
Other cities
Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library, 1250 SW District Dr
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Clive Public Library, 1900 NW 114th St
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Grimes Public Library, 500 N James St
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Johnston Public Library, 6700 Merle Hay Rd
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Newton Public Library, 101 W 4th St
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Norwalk Easter Public Library, 1051 North Ave
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Public Library, 5151 Maple Dr
Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.
Urbandale Public Library, 3520 86th St
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Waukee Public Library, 950 S Warrior Ln
Open Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Waukee Public Safety Building, 1300 SE L.A. Grant Pkwy
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 2-5 p.m.
Isaac Hamlet contributed to this article.
