The City of Wichita offers several cooling centers for residents to escape the heat this coming week. Between libraries, recreation centers and neighborhood resource centers, the City has 14 different public locations for residents to visit during extremely hot weather. All centers are open and free to the public.
Beginning Monday, August 10 through Thursday, August 13, Wichita Transit will offer free, one-time use vouchers to allow riders to escape the heat and travel to one of the City’s free, public resources, including Wichita Public Libraries, recreation centers or neighborhood resource centers. Riders can pick up a voucher at the Hub, 207 S. Sycamore or by boarding the bus and advising the driver which cooling center the rider needs to get to. Riders will need to pick a cooling center along that route to avoid being charged fare for any transfers. The driver will allow the rider to board and provide them with their ticket to be exchanged at the cooling center. These vouchers must be exchanged at a Wichita Public Library, recreation center or neighborhood resource center for a return ride ticket.
Please note that Wichita Public Libraries are closed for upgrades on Monday, August 10. They will reopen on Tuesday, August 11 and offer air conditioning, technology, comfortable seating, drinking fountains, and an endless supply of learning and entertainment for all ages. Library hours, events and locations are available at wichitalibrary.org.
Wichita Neighborhood Resource Centers have water and air conditioning for anyone who needs it. Residents may come in, use the facilities and utilize computers or other resources. Residents may find our neighborhood resource centers and recreation centers at:
- Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E 19th St N.
- Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center, 2820 S Roosevelt St
- Evergreen Community Center and Library, 2601 N. Arkansas
- Boston Recreation Center, 6655 E Zimmerly
- Edgemoor Recreation Center, 5815 E 9th Street
- Evergreen Recreation Center, 2700 N Woodland
- Linwood Recreation Center, 1901 S Kansas
- Orchard Recreation Center, 4808 W 9th Street
- Lynette Woodard Recreation Center, 2750 E 18th Street
Residents are welcome to enjoy the eight open splash pads as a fun way to cool off. While the aquatics season winds down, Aley, College Hill, Harvest and Minisa pools are open Saturdays and Sundays only from 1–6 p.m., beginning Saturday, August 15, through Sunday, September 6.
