Cooling centers and spray pads are open across the Capital Region this week, as New Yorkers seek refuge from days of extreme heat and humidity that could pose health risks.
Also, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced free admission to all state parks on Wednesday and Thursday to help residents and visitors find relief.
Swimming sites at applicable parks will open early. The sites in the Capital Region are:
- Taconic State Park – Copake Falls Area
- Lake Taghkanic State Park
- Grafton Lakes State Park
- Moreau Lake State Park
- Thompson’s Lake Campground – Thacher State Park
State parks in the Hudson Valley with free admission can be found here.
Several public facilities in the Capital Region are serving as cooling centers in the area this week, though some are closed on Wednesday due to Juneteenth holiday.
In Albany, residents will be able to visit public libraries to stay cool on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The libraries are closed Wednesday for Juneteenth.
Spray pads at the following locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Black Lives Matter Park, Colonie Street Park, Hackett Park, Lincoln Park, North Swan Street Park, Rosemont Park, Sheridan Park and Westland Hills Park.
In Rensselaer County, the Troy Fire Department will make cooling stations available from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the week at Rensselaer Park Elementary School, Historic Market in Little Italy and the Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Club.
City splash pads are open from sunrise to sunset at Corliss Park, Geneva Pompey Park, Frear Park, Prospect Park and William Chamberlain Riverfront Park.
Schenectady County's cooling centers that are available on various times from Tuesday to Thursday.
They include: the Karen B. Johnson Library, Bethesda House of Schenectady, the Mont Pleasant Branch Library, the Phyllis Bornt Branch Library, the Woodlawn Branch Library, the Duanesburg/Delanson Quaker Street Branch Library, the Glenville/Scotia Glenville Branch Library the Scotia Branch Library, the Glenville Senior Center, the Niskayuna Branch Library, the Niskayuna Senior Center, the Rotterdam Branch Library, Via Port Rotterdam and the Rotterdam Senior Center.
The town of Halfmoon announced the opening of a cooling station from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday in the Halfmoon Town Hall.
For a cooling center near you, check this list from the state Health Department.