Pools, spraygrounds and cooling centers: Here’s where to cool off in Philly during a heat wave
For many Philadelphia residents, when extreme heat hits, air-conditioned spaces are in short supply. Here’s a look at some free options across the city.
File photo: Joyful kids at the James Finnegan Playground in Southwest Philadelphia on June 30, 2021. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
How to cope with a Philly heat wave
- Have questions about enduring extreme heat in Philly? WHYY News has the answers
- Here’s how to protect yourself and loved ones, what happens to the body in extreme temperatures and how heat becomes deadly
- Plus: If you’re going out in the heat, here are 8 mistakes to avoid
Philly public pools
Philadelphia’s Department of Parks & Recreation operates dozens of public pools across the city.
Here’s where you can find a Philly public pool near you.
Related Content
Extreme heat in Philly: Here’s what you need to know to stay safe and cool
Confused about extreme heat terminology? Curious how climate change factors into soaring temps? The WHYY News Climate Desk has you covered.
5 months ago
Philly sprinklers and spraygrounds
Philly has more than 90 sprinklers, splash pads and spraygrounds, which are open seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Residents can find a Philly sprayground online.
Philly cooling centers
In response to the ongoing Heat Health Emergency, Philly is opening more than 150 cooling centers and sites, including extended hours at Free Library locations, Parks & Recreation Centers, pools, spraygrounds, Older Adult Centers and PHA Senior Sites.
Residents can find a cooling center near them online or by calling 311.
Get daily updates from WHYY News!
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Part of the series
Biden administration proposes rule for workplaces to address excessive heat
Despite increased awareness of the risks posed to human health by high temperatures, extreme heat protections have lagged.
5 months ago
What’s a heat dome? Here’s why so much of the U.S. is broiling this week
It’s helpful to think of a heat dome as what’s happening in the atmosphere and a heat wave as how it affects people on the ground.
5 months ago
Why isn’t extreme heat considered a disaster in the U.S.?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has never responded to deadly or damaging extreme heat. Environmental groups and labor unions are asking for that to change.
5 months ago