Town Opens Cooling Centers in Midst of Week-Long Heatwave

In light of an expected week-long heatwave, the Town of Hempstead has opened 15 cooling centers and extended hours at several of its pools and beaches through Friday.

Temperatures are expected to hit the mid-90s in the afternoon from Monday to Friday throughout the town. Humidity levels will make it feel like 100 degrees, the town said in a release.

“Excessive temperatures and oppressive humidity levels are a dangerous, and potentially deadly, combination,” Town Supervisor Kate Murray said. “... If you do not have access to air conditioning or a cool place to stay, I encourage you to visit one of our town’s cooling centers, beaches or pools.”

The following cooling centers are open to the public from Monday, July 15, through Friday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (except where noted):

• Baldwin Senior Center, 1810 N. Grand Ave., Baldwin,  (516) 546-7110
• Bellmore Senior Center, 2000 Bellmore Ave., Bellmore, (516) 221-9696
• Cedarhurst Senior Center, 200 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst, (516) 295-1177 (open until 4:30 p.m.)
• East Meadow Senior Center, 1485 Front St., East Meadow, (516) 794-2458
• Elmont Senior Center, 138 Elmont Road, Elmont, (516) 354-4777
• Franklin Square Senior Center, 1182 Martha Place, Franklin Square, (516) 328-3010
• Green Acres Senior Center, 400 Flower Road, Valley Stream, (516) 872-8810
• Levittown Senior Center, 555 N. Newbridge Road, Levittown, (516) 433-5454
• Merrick Senior Center, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick, (516) 868-4777
• Oceanside Senior Center, 2900 Rockaway Ave., Oceanside, (516) 766-8888
• Rosa Parks Senior Center, 2 Babylon Turnpike, Roosevelt (516) 867-1612
• Salisbury Senior Center, 460 Salisbury Park Drive, Westbury, (516) 333-5440
• Uniondale-Hempstead Senior Center, 840 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale (516) 292-1313
• Uniondale-Merrick Senior Center, 750 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale (516) 538-5050
• Wantagh Senior Center, 1150 Seamans Neck Road, Wantagh (516) 785-8505 

Hours of operation will be extended at the following pools:

• Roosevelt Pool - Closing at 7 p.m.
• Forest City Park Pool - Closing at 8 p.m.
• Rath Pool (Franklin Square Park District) - Closing at 8 p.m.
• Walker Memorial Pool - Closing at 8 p.m.
• Azaela Road Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
• Hewlett Pool – Closing at 8 p.m.
• Blue Grass Lane Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
• Slate Lane Pool- Closing at 8 p.m.
• Town Park at the Sands Pool - Closing at 7 p.m.

Lifeguards will be on duty for an extra hour (until 7 p.m.) at the following beaches:

• Town Park Point Lookout
• Lido Beach Town Park
• Lido West Town Park
• Town Park at Sands  
• Hewlett Point Park
• East Atlantic Beach
• Atlantic Beach Estates
• Point Lookout Civic Beach