With much of the northeastern United States under an extreme heat warning — the National Weather Service has forecast multiple record-breaking temperature days this week — the City of Richmond is opening up cooling stations to offer relief to residents.
From now until Labor Day, the city will provide cooling services at multiple locations across three main categories:
Department of Social Services buildings — walk-up cooling centers where residents can get out of the heat and receive a bottle of water
- Marshall Plaza, 900 E. Marshall St., Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Southside Plaza, 4100 Hull Street Road, Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Richmond Public Library branches — air-conditioned spaces to shelter from heat during regular operating hours (check the library’s website for individual branch hours)
- Main Library, 101 E. Franklin St.
- Belmont, 3100 Ellwood Ave.
- Broad Rock, 4820 Old Warwick Road
- East End, 1200 N. 25th St.
- Ginter Park, 1200 Westbrook Ave.
- Hull Street, 1400 Hull St.
- North Avenue, 2901 North Ave.
- West End, 5420 Patterson Ave.
- Westover Hills, 1408 Westover Hills Blvd.
Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities outdoor pools — open for public use or to cool off during normal operating hours (Monday–Friday, noon–8 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, noon–7 p.m.)
- Battery Park, 2719 Dupont Circle
- Blackwell, 238 E. 14th St.
- Fairmont, 2000 U St.
- Hotchkiss Field, 701 E. Brookland Park Blvd.
- Powhatan, 1000 Apperson St.
- Randolph, 1507 Grayland Ave.
- Woodville, 2305 Fairfield Ave.
If temperatures are expected to reach 92 F for two or more consecutive hours during the day, the Salvation Army Extreme Heat and Weather Shelter (1900 Chamberlayne Ave.) will also open. Regular hours are from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., with lunch available to guests — and the site will remain open overnight if temperatures are forecasted to be 92 F or higher at 9 p.m.
A city spokesperson confirmed to VPM News that the Salvation Army site will operate on extended hours several days this week due to extreme heat forecasts:
- Monday, June 23: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 24: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 25: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Pets, except for service animals, are not permitted at any location.
