City of Rochester
News Release
(Wednesday, July 20, 2011) – Mayor Thomas S. Richards announced today that the Cool Sweep Heat Emergency will continue through Friday, July 22, in anticipation of temperatures in the 90s with readings approaching 100 tomorrow. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for Rochester late Thursday morning through late Thursday afternoon. According to the National Weather Service, an Excessive Heat Watch means that a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected. The Watch notice states that high temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat-related illnesses are possible. Residents are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Cool Sweep is the City’s annual public safety and customer service program to help city residents who have limited opportunities to find relief from summer heat. A Cool Sweep operation is triggered when the forecast calls for a day to reach 85 degrees. A heat emergency is triggered when temperatures reach 90 degrees. In addition to standard Cool Sweep locations, designated City libraries and Carter Street Community Center open for extended hours during heat emergencies. Special programming at recreation centers may be reduced or eliminated to accommodate the general public during a heat emergency.
The operation employs the use of a cooling spray from fire hydrants and extended hours at City pools and Durand Eastman Beach (water conditions permitting). The use of City spray parks and pools in certain city high schools are also available to the public.
Cool Sweep hours and locations are as follows:
Standard Cool Sweep Schedule:
Cool Sweep Hydrant locations are:
• School No. 22 parking lot, 27 Zimbrich St.;
• School No. 41 parking lot, 279 W. Ridge Road;
• Gardiner Recreation Center, 75 Grover St.;
• Baden Park on Vienna Street.
* Hours for all locations are noon to 4 p.m.
Spray Park locations:
• Carter Street Community Center Spray Park, 500 Carter St.;
• Edgerton Community Center Spray Park, 41 Backus St.;
• Fourth and Peck Playground (spray feature only, not a full park), corner of Fourth and Peck Streets;
• Humboldt Community Center Spray Park, 1045 Atlantic Ave.;
• Manhattan Square Park (spray feature only, not a full park), 25 Manhattan Square Drive;
• David F. Gantt Community Center Spray Park, 700 North St.;
• Ryan Community Center Spray Park, 530 Webster Ave.;
• Troup Street Park (spray feature only, not a full park), Troup and Van Auker Streets.
*Hours for all locations are 10 a.m. to dusk.
Swimming opportunities:
• Adams Street Community Center, Pool 85 Adams St., noon to 9 p.m.;
• Avenue D Community Center Pool, 200 Avenue D., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Durand Eastman Beach (water conditions permitting), 1000 Lakeshore Blvd. Lot A only, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• East High School Pool, 1801 E. Main St. (gym entrance on Main Street), Monday-Friday only, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
• Flint Street Community Center Pool, 271 Flint St., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
• Frederick Douglass High School Pool, 940 Fernwood Park (Tennis Court entrance), Monday-Friday only, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
• Genesee Valley Park Pool, 131 Elmwood Ave., noon to 9 p.m.;
• Jefferson High School Pool, 1 Edgerton Park (west side of building near track/football field, entrance 8) Monday-Friday only, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;
• Wilson Foundation Academy Pool, 200 Genesee St. (Dr. Samuel McCree Way entrance), Monday-Friday only, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Heat Emergency Schedule:
When temperatures exceed 90 degrees, the Cool Sweep program extends into City branch library locations and to Carter Street Community Center Gym where residents can stay in an air conditioned building.
Library cooling areas:
• Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Blvd.;
• Lincoln Branch Library, 851 Joseph Ave.;
• Maplewood Branch Library, 1111 Dewey Ave.;
• Winton Road Branch Library, 611 Winton Road N.
* There will not be standardized opening times during the week, but closing times will be at 9 p.m. Saturday hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Recreation Center cooling area:
• Carter Street Community Center Gym, 500 Carter Street (air conditioning only).
*There will not be standardized opening times during the week, but closing time will be at 9 p.m. Saturday hours will be from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information on Cool Sweep hours and locations, the public is invited to call the Genesee Valley Park Pool at 428-7888.
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News Media: For more information, contact the Communications Bureau at 428-7135; or John Picone, Director of Athletics and Aquatics, at 202-2263.