Due to this week’s oppressive heat, Mayor Michael B. Coleman has implemented Operation Cool Down, asking Columbus city personnel to open four fire hydrants to offer residents an additional option for staying cool and having fun. The hydrants will be turned on at a controlled, safe level between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The areas will be blocked from traffic and supervised by Columbus city staff.
The locations are:
- Beatty Recreation Center in front of 180 N. Ohio Ave.
- Driving Park in front of 1718 E. Columbus Street
- Linden Park in front of 1254 Briarwood Ave.
- Westgate Park at Wicklow Road and S. Southhampton Avenue
“To help make it through this hot and humid weather, we want to offer our residents some relief and some fun,” said Mayor Coleman. “I encourage our residents to visit our air-conditioned recreation centers, swimming pools and spray grounds as well as these temporary cool-down areas.”
Mayor Coleman urges all Columbus residents to take extra steps to stay cool and safe for the next few days.
- Drink plenty of water; do not wait until you are thirsty.
- Stay inside in air conditioning whenever possible. If you do not have an air conditioner, use movie theatres, shopping malls, libraries, recreation centers and other public places that are cool.
- Avoid beverages with alcohol, caffeine and sugar because they will dehydrate you.
- Eat light meals.
- Wear lightweight, light colored clothing and a hat.
- Stay in the shade.
- Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
In addition to the hydrants, residents are invited to visit any of Columbus Recreation and Parks’ air-conditioned recreation centers. All centers are open to the public in the summer from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. A list of recreation centers with full or partial air conditioning is below:
- Beatty, 247 N. Ohio Ave.
- Carriage Place, 4900 Sawmill
- Dodge, 667 Sullivant Ave.
- Douglas, 1250 Windsor Ave.
- Gillie, 4625 Morse Centre
- Lazelle Woods, 8140 Sancus
- Linden, 1254 Briarwood Ave. (two rooms have air conditioning)
- Marion Franklin, 2801 Lockbourne
- Martin Janis, 600 E. 11th Ave.
- Sullivant Garden, 755 Renick St.
- Whetstone, 3923 N. High St.
- Woodward, 5147 Karl Rd.
Columbus also has seven pools that open daily from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the exception of Tuttle which is open each day until 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, however, patrons must have a department-issued Leisure Card that costs $1 and can be purchased at any of the city’s recreation centers. The list of pools is as follows:
- Dodge, 545 Sullivant Ave.
- Glenwood, 1925 W. Broad St.
- Lincoln, 1700 Ann St.
- Marion Franklin, 2699 Lockbourne Rd.
- Maryland, 1380 Atcheson St.
- Tuttle, 240 W. Oakland Ave.
- Windsor, 1300 Windsor Ave.
The department also operates a free sprayground at Barnett Recreation Center, 1184 Barnett Rd., on the East Side daily from noon to 7 pm. In addition, the public is welcome to go for free to the AEP fountain downtown in Bicentennial Park, 233 Civic Center Dr., along the Scioto Mile.
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