As summer temperatures rise and during heat waves, the City of Richmond is providing various options to help residents stay cool and safe.

Beginning now through Labor Day, the City of Richmond will offer walk-up cooling centers in neighborhoods across the City that includes Richmond Public Library locations, Parks and Recreation outdoor pools, and the Department of Social Services’ Marshall Plaza and the Southside Plaza Buildings.

Department of Social Services

Offers walk-up cooling center for residents to briefly escape the heat and receive a bottle of water.

• Marshall Plaza

900 E. Marshall Street

Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• Southside Plaza

4100 Hull Street Road

Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The following are free public facilities or recreation areas that offer relief for those experiencing physical discomfort in high heat. Please note that these are not formal shelters and are operating during their regular hours.

Richmond Public Library
Various locations offer air-conditioned spaces. Operating hours vary by branch. To find individual library hours, visit: https://rvalibrary.org/about/hours/

• Main Library

101 E. Franklin Street

• Belmont Library

3100 Ellwood Avenue

• Broad Rock Library

4820 Old Warwick Road

• East End Library

1200 N. 25th Street

• Ginter Park Library

1200 W. Brook Avenue

• Hull Street Library

1400 Hull Street

• North Avenue Library

2901 North Avenue

• West End Library

5420 Patterson Avenue

• Westover Hills Library

1408 Westover Hills Boulevard

Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Outdoor Pools
Open for public use to cool off.

• Operating Hours: Monday – Friday, Noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Noon – 7 p.m.

• Battery Park Pool
  2719 Dupont Circle
• Blackwell Pool
  238 E. 14^th Street
• Fairmont Pool
  2000 U Street
• Hotchkiss Field Pool
  701 E. Brookland Park Boulevard
• Powhatan Pool
  1000 Apperson Street
• Randolph Pool
  1507 Grayland Avenue
• Woodville Pool
  2305 Fairfield Avenue