The early-summer heatwave continues in the Chicago area, with the National Weather Service forecasting more air temperatures in the 90s and even hotter heat indices, and public health leaders urging caution.
After the last extreme heat warning June 21 to June 23 in Cook County, some were concerned about where to go to get cooling relief from high temperatures. In addition to the cooling centers, park district pools and waterparks have opened for the season.
Lincolnwood
Assistant Village Manager Madeline Farrell told Pioneer Press Lincolnwood does not have official cooling centers and did receive a couple of calls around June 18 to June 20 inquiring if any such spaces were available.
“We would direct any callers, residents or anyone seeking formal cooling centers to the Cook County website where there is a list of cooling centers,” Farrell said.
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The list includes the nearby Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., and Niles Township, 5255 Lincoln Ave., Skokie.
“There are, of course, informal air-conditioned spaces within Lincolnwood that we would remind people of. The mall is open and air-conditioned, the library, places of that sort,” Farrell said.
Morton Grove
Assistant Village Administrator Zoe Heidorn told Pioneer Press via email that when there are excessive heat events, Morton Grove typically shares a list of three air-conditioned public facilities that are available during business hours.
The public spaces are the American Legion Memorial Civic Center, 6140 Dempster St., the Prairie View Community Center, 6834 Dempster St. and the Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave.
Niles
Village of Niles spokesman Mitch Johnson told Pioneer Press that cooling center information posted on the village’s website on June 20 reflects what is available.
“We don’t actively activate or deactivate the cooling centers. It’s a business hours offering that is always here,” Johnson said.
The Niles Human Services and Family Fitness Center building operates as a cooling center during extreme heat.
“We estimate that five to 10 people came into our facilities over the past couple of weeks for use as a cooling center during business hours,” Johnson said.
The facilities include Niles Senior Center, 999 Civic Center Drive, and Niles Family Fitness Center, 987 Civic Center Drive.
“When there’s some sort of heat notification, or just by our watching the forecast and we see heat coming up, that’s when we’ll proactively notify the public,” Johnson said.
Officials encourage residents in need of extreme heat assistance after business hours to call Niles Family Services Department at 847-343-2073 and ask to speak with a crisis worker.
“They’ll be connected with our Family Services Department and social workers that can get more information on what they’re experiencing and track down support solutions to make sure they’re taken care of,” Johnson said.
Norridge
The village leaders did not respond to Pioneer Press’s request for comment about possible cooling facilities.
However, the Cook County online cooling centers list includes Norwood Park Township, 7833 W. Lawrence Ave. in Norridge as an option.
Park Ridge
Brigid Madden, communications coordinator for Park Ridge, told Pioneer Press several city locations are activated as cooling centers when the heat and humidity index reaches or is forecasted between 100 degrees and 105 degrees for three consecutive days.
Cooling centers during extreme heat include the Park Ridge Police Department, 200 S. Vine Ave., City Hall, 505 Butler Place, and Park Ridge Public Library, 20 S. Prospect Ave.
Other Park Ridge cooling centers include Centennial Activity Center, 100 S. Western Ave., and Maine Township Town Hall, 1700 Ballard Road.
“If there was any resident who needed assistance, they could come to the police station and we would work to resolve that,” Madden said about what is available when cooling centers are not activated.
Residents also may call the police non-emergency number, 847-318-5256, for assistance.
“We would work with our social worker to connect them with services if they were not able to get to us physically,” Madden said.
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Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.