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Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced free admission to all state parks on Wednesday and Thursday to help residents and visitors find relief from high temperatures and humidity.
Swimming sites at the parks will open early. The sites in the Hudson Valley are:
- Lake Welch State Park
- Canopus State Park
- Rockland Lake State Park
- Tallman Mountain State Park
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Lake Tiorati Beach – Harriman State Park
Several public facilities are serving as cooling centers in the Hudson Valley this week, though some are closed on Wednesday due to Juneteenth holiday.
Twenty air-conditioned libraries across Dutchess County and eight libraries in Putnam County will open their doors during operating hours.
Multiple libraries in Orange County are available, along with the Crawford Town Hall, Goodwill Church, Grace Community Church, Mount Hope Senior Center, Port Jervis Youth/Community Center, Recreation Department Activity Center in Newburgh, Village Hall of Warwick, Village of Florida Senior Center, Village of Goshen Senior Center, Village of Greenwood Lake Senior, Warwick Town Senior Center and Wawayanda Senior Citizens Building, according to the state Health Department.
People can escape the heat in nine Sullivan County libraries, the Sullivan County Government Center, SUNY Sullivan and Walmart in Monticello.
Locations in Ulster County include the 2nda Iglesia La Mision Church in Kingston, Rosendale Recreation Center, the Trudy Farber Building in Ellenville, New Paltz Village Hall and the Saugerties and Woodstock town halls.
Visitors are welcome in more than two dozen libraries in Westchester County, the Croton-on-Hudson Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building, the Hergenhan Community Center, New Castle Town Hall, North Salem Community Center, Port Chester Senior Center and Tarrytown Senior Center.
To check for information about a cooling center near you, check this list from the state Health Department.