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Weather forecasts show no signs of sweltering temperatures ticking down anytime soon, but Utahns now have access to a plethora of public places where they can cool off over the next few months.
While the dog days of summer hound the Wasatch Front, officials from Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City have teamed up to provide dozens of “cool zones” in libraries, recreation facilities and senior centers.
“As the temperatures soar,” county Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a news release, “we are so thankful that we can offer cool zones as [a] cooling option for our residents.”
The program offers free places to chill out, stay hydrated, and learn about a variety of programs and activities.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Downtown Salt Lake City's Main Library has been designated as a "cool zone," where residents can escape the summer heat. Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
“As we experience more intense heat waves due to climate change,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s spokesperson Andrew Wittenberg said in a statement, “it’s important to us that Salt Lake City collaborate with our partners to provide public spaces for young and old, the unsheltered and those without cooling systems, to find safety and reprieve during the hottest times of the day.”
Many cool zones will be open to all ages. Salt Lake County senior centers, meanwhile, will be open to Utahns 60 and older. Facilities may require fees to participate in services and programs.
Cool zones can be found throughout the county, with locations such as the Main Library in downtown Salt Lake City, the county’s Granite Library in South Salt Lake, the Draper Recreation Center and the Sandy Senior Center.
To find your nearest location, call 385-468-3200 or visit slco.org to view a map of all available locations.
Cool zones will be open until Oct. 15.
