As temperatures rise during the summer months, the City of Richmond is implementing measures to help residents stay cool and safe. The city will provide walk-up cooling centers in various neighborhoods until Labor Day. These centers include Richmond Public Library locations, Parks and Recreation outdoor pools, and the Department of Social Services’ Marshall Plaza and Southside Plaza Buildings.
The Department of Social Services offers a walk-up cooling center where residents can escape the heat briefly and receive a bottle of water. The Marshall Plaza at 900 E. Marshall Street and Southside Plaza at 4100 Hull Street Road are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Public facilities such as libraries also offer air-conditioned spaces for relief from high temperatures. Although these are not formal shelters, they operate during regular hours. Locations include:
– Main Library: 101 E. Franklin Street
– Belmont Library: 3100 Ellwood Avenue
– Broad Rock Library: 4820 Old Warwick Road
– East End Library: 1200 N. 25th Street
– Ginter Park Library: 1200 W. Brook Avenue
– Hull Street Library: 1400 Hull Street
– North Avenue Library: 2901 North Avenue
– West End Library: 5420 Patterson Avenue
– Westover Hills Library: 1408 Westover Hills Boulevard
Richmond Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities outdoor pools are available for public use to cool off, operating Monday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m., and on weekends from noon to 7 p.m. Pool locations include Battery Park Pool, Blackwell Pool, Fairmont Pool, Hotchkiss Field Pool, Powhatan Pool, Randolph Pool, and Woodville Pool.
The Salvation Army Extreme Heat and Weather Shelter will open if temperatures are expected to reach or exceed 92°F for two or more consecutive hours during the day. Located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue, this shelter provides lunch while open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended overnight hours if nighttime temperatures remain high.
Pets are not permitted at any location except for service animals.
