Queens seniors chill out at local cooling centers

The Children’s Library Discovery Center in Jamaica, an annex to the Queens Central Library. Photo Courtesy of the Center for Active Design

By Rachel Vick

Dozens of municipal spaces, senior centers and libraries throughout Queens are open to residents who need a respite from this week’s heat wave, as temperatures climb toward 100 degrees Friday and Saturday.

New York City Emergency Management and the Department of Health issued a heat advisory on Tuesday, urging New Yorkers to exercise caution and providing alternatives for those who might not have access to air conditioning.

Seniors are a particular risk during extreme heat conditions because of limited mobility and increased health concerns. 

Many senior centers, like the JSPOA Theodora G. Jackson Adult Center, are opening their doors as cooling centers. Associate Executive Director Elesia Johnson said that many people stopped in to take advantage of the location while waiting on line for the MetroCard van parked outside.

“There were about 20 people who wound up coming inside to get out of the heat so we sat them down and set them up with cold water,” she said.

The site was pleasantly cool when the Eagle visited Wednesday, when several seniors were sitting in the waiting area to escape from the heavy humidity outside.

All 65 Queens library locations regularly help residents beat the heat, said Central Library director Nelson Lu.

“The library being used as a cooling center isn’t just good for us, it’s good for the community,” Lu said. “People have a nice, cold space to come and enjoy; they can use the computer, read a book or just sit and cool off.”

The ground floor was decently full, with some patrons using the media center, small cafe and seating area on Wednesday morning. Others passed through to peruse the shelves and go about their library business. 

Lu said the crowd was not anything out of the ordinary, but that staff was expecting a larger turnout as the week progressed.

NBC News reported Tuesday that 49 NYCHA cooling centers were still without air conditioning.

Emergency Management provides an interactive map showing nearby cooling center locations and accessibility. 

Sunday’s high temperature is expected to be 98 with a real feel of 111, according to Accuweather.

Fourteen libraries will remain open as cooling centers on Sunday. Queens Public Library branches in Jamaica, Flushing, Kew Gardens Hills, Bayside, Corona, Jackson Heights, Arverne, Richmond Hill, Bellerose, Long Island City, Howard Beach, Ridgewood, Rochdale Village and Astoria will be open from 12 to 5 p.m.

To find a nearby cooling center visit NYC.gov/beattheheat or call 311.