KC Reporter

Kansas City community centers throughout the city offer diverse programs to help keep residents cool during high temperatures. Community centers and libraries are available for use by any member of the public as cooling centers free of charge during regular operating hours.

The Kansas City North Community Center, located at 3930 N.E. Antioch Road, offers a full-sized gymnasium, cardio and weight room, auditorium, kitchen, meeting rooms, pottery studio, exercise room, and adjacent tennis courts. The Line Creek Community Center at 5940 N.W. Waukomis Drive features a 34,000-square-foot family recreation center with baseball diamonds and a soccer field nearby.

In central Kansas City, the Garrison Community Center on E. Fifth Street is a historical landmark offering various activities and clubs. The Gregg/Klice Community Center on John Buck O'Neil Way provides similar amenities along with aquatics programs. The Mary Williams-Neal Community Center on Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Tony Aguirre Community Center on W Pennway St., and Westport Roanoke Community Center on Roanoke Road also serve as cooling centers with multiple recreational facilities.

South Kansas City's Hillcrest Community Center on Hillcrest Road has a full-sized gymnasium among other offerings. The Marlborough Community Center on The Paseo Boulevard and Southeast Community Center on E. 63rd Street provide additional spaces for community activities.

The City of Kansas City has implemented a heat protocol for employees that includes provisions such as bottled water and regular breaks when the heat index reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. At an index of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, additional cooling breaks occur every 30 minutes to prevent heat exhaustion.

Residents are encouraged to utilize free air-conditioned buses and streetcars during extreme heat days. Shelters for the unhoused will be open as cooling centers with outreach teams informing individuals about these resources.

Safety tips include avoiding fans as primary cooling sources in extremely hot conditions if air conditioning is unavailable; checking on neighbors twice daily; never leaving children or pets in closed vehicles; taking frequent breaks when working outside; staying hydrated; avoiding excessive sun exposure; and postponing outdoor activities.

For more information and tips on handling hot weather conditions or to sign up for extreme weather alerts via text or email, visit KCMO.gov/heat or KCMO.gov.alertkc.

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