Need a place to escape the summer heat? Here’s a list of cooling centers and spaces in and around Portland.
Whenever a heat wave rolls into town, it can feel like a frenzied effort to find a place to cool off during the hottest times of the day. Thankfully, there are free resources throughout the city to help Portlanders stay cool.
Below is a list of cooling centers and spaces to help you cool off during extreme heat in Portland.
Cooling Centers and Spaces in and around Portland
During heat waves, Multnomah County opens designated cooling centers as a reprieve from hottest times of day. These cooling centers provide food and water in safe, air-conditioned places. No one will be turned away and pets are welcome.
Three cooling centers are opening Monday, July 8, and Tuesday, July 9, from noon to 10 p.m.:
- Cook Plaza, 19421 S.E. Stark St., Gresham(link is external)
- Portland Covenant Church, 4046 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland(link is external)
- Congregation Beth Israel, 1972 N.W. Flanders St., Portland
Be sure to check in on Multnomah County’s website to see what locations are open. The county will assess situations on a day to day basis.
Also, Day One Tech STEAM is hosting a relief station at The Spot, 16955 SE Division St. in Portland. On Monday, July 8, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., stop by for misting stations, shade, water games for kids, LEGO and robotics activities, indoor movies and complimentary water and popsicles. Be sure to check Day One Tech STEAM’s Facebook page for updates.
Transportation
Need a ride to these cooling centers? Trimet will provide free rides to anyone going to a cooling space between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday, July 8, and Tuesday, July 9. Simply tell the bus driver or MAX operator where you are headed for a free ride. Stay tuned to Trimet’s website for updates. Anyone needing additional transportation help can call 2-1-1.
Another location offering air conditioning is the Lloyd Center, 2201 Lloyd Center, which is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Splash Pads
Splash pads are open at Portland parks from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day through September 2. Here’s are the splash pads locations:
- Colonel Summers Park, SE 17th Avenue and Taylor Street
- Columbia Park and Annex, N Lombard Street and Woolsey Avenue
- Dawson Park, N Stanton Street and Williams Avenue
- Earl Boyles Park, east of SE 107th Avenue and Francis Street
- Elizabeth Caruthers Park, 3508 SW Moody Avenue
- Essex Park, SE 79th Avenue and Center Street
- Farragut Park, N Kerby Avenue and Farragut Street
- Fernhill Park, NE 37th Avenue and Ainsworth Street
- Gateway Discovery Park, 10520 NE Halsey Street
- Irving Park, NE 7th Avenue and Fremont Street
- Kenton Park, 8417 N Brandon Avenue
- Khunamokwst Park, 5200 NE Alberta Street
- Northgate Park, N Geneva Avenue and Fessenden Street
- Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way
- Pier Park, N Lombard Street and Bruce Avenue
- Raymond Park, SE 118th Avenue and Raymond Street
- Spring Garden Park, 3332 SW Spring Garden Street
- Woodlawn Park, NE 13th Avenue and Dekum Street
Here’s an interactive map of all the splash pad locations.
Misting Stations
Portland Water Bureau has installed water misting stations at 14 Portland parks that have cool water spraying 24 hours a day.
Here is a list of parks with misting stations:
- Argay Park, 3898 N.E. 141st Ave.
- Glenhaven Park, 8000 N.E. Siskiyou St.
- Floyd Light Park/Rose Petal Fountain, 10620 S.E. Stark St.
- Harney Park, 8498 S.E. 67th Ave.
- Holladay Park, 1198 N.E. Multnomah St.
- Knott Park, 2505 N.E. 117th Ave.
- Lents Park, 4603 S.E. 92nd Ave.
- Lynchwood Park, 17301 S.E. Haig St.
- McKenna Park, 7129 N. Wall St.
- Mt. Scott Community Center, 5527 S.E. 72nd Ave.
- Normandale Park, 1260 N.E. 57th Ave.
- Powell Park, Curb Service south of Powell in S.E. 22nd Ave.
- Wilshire Park, 3350 N.E. Skidmore St.
- Woodstock Park, 4701 S.E. 47th Ave.
Local pool also offer free open play swim times throughout the week.
Libraries
Open seven days a week, Multnomah County libraries offer a welcome break from the relenting heat with lots of options for entertainment. There are 22 locations through the county, but several are currently closed for renovations. Make sure you check the library hours and locations here before you visit.
Interactive Map
Multnomah County has gathered all of these resources into an interactive map. This gives you an easy-to-use visual of where you can go wherever you are in the county.
For the most up-to-date information, visit Multnomah County’s website.
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