LEXINGTON, Ky. — If you cool it, they will come.
What You Need To Know
- High temperatures especially dangerous for homeless, young and elderly populations
- Residents encouraged to escape the heat at cooling centers
- Rides to and from cooling centers are free during heatwave
- Admission to pools and aquatic centers at half price
With a heat index expected to soar into triple digits over the next several days, the city of Lexington has taken measures to ensure residents are safe.
The city has opened two cooling centers, one at the Dunbar Community Center at 545 N. Upper St., and another at Tates Creek Golf Course, 1400 Gainesway Drive. The Dunbar center is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and the golf course space from 7 a.m. to dusk.
The city is also offering free rides on Lextran to those traveling to and from a cooling center and half-price admission fees at all city pools and aquatic centers through Thursday, June 16.
Adrienne Godfrey Thakur, deputy director of recreation for Lexington Parks and Recreation, was at the Dunbar Center Tuesday, when the heat index was expected to reach 110 degrees. She said a cooling center is a place where anyone who needs respite from the heat can come and relax and enjoy the air conditioning.
“Once you arrive, you can sit in any of our public spaces. You could use our gym. We have a weight room that’s open and an e-sports center,” she said. “There are organized crafts and other activities for all ages. People can come in, sit and relax or partake in any of the activities.”
Sonya Ramos was walking to the center at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to escape the heat. She said her house has air conditioning, but it is not enough when temperatures get into the 90s.
“I live a couple streets over and when it gets too hot, I’ll walk over here and cool off,” she said. “After a while, I’ll go back home and go about my day until it gets too hot again, then I’ll come back for a while.”
Ramos said she also does everything possible to keep her home cool, such as closing all her curtains, keeping lights off and not using the stove.
“My house is old and the rooms are big,” she said. “The air conditioning unit isn’t powerful and there’s no shade outside, so my house kind of sits there and bakes. I don’t really run my air conditioning when it’s this hot because there’s no point in it. I’m grateful for these cooling centers. People need them on days like today.”
Thakur agreed with Ramos, saying historically, people take advantage of the chance to cool off.
“With air conditioning being broken or even people being on the road or having to travel from work to other places, we want them to come in and have a safe, public space to get away from the heat. But aside from those folks, we are open to any member of the public regardless of their housing situation or what side of town they’re from. Everyone can come and use the centers.”
The combination of heat and humidity increases the risk of heat-related stress and illness, especially among the homeless, the very young, the elderly, those without air conditioning and those taking part in strenuous outdoor activities, according to the National Weather Service.
“When our summer temperatures reach into the 90s, and our heat index gets even higher, it is important for everyone to be safe outdoors,” said Linda Gorton, mayor of Lexington, in a press release. “I encourage everyone to stay hydrated, find shade if possible, and rest frequently if outdoors for extended periods. If anyone needs access to a cool, indoor space during the day, please take advantage of our cooling centers.”
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Emergency Management Office has declared a heat emergency through Friday, June 17.