Community centers will be operating under expanded hours to serve as cooling centers for residents in need
LANSING, MI– Mayor Andy Schor announced today that the City of Lansing would be under a Code Red emergency heat advisory and that community center hours would be extended. All community centers will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. this week to ensure that residents have access to air-conditioned spaces as high temperatures are expected to last through the week.
Wednesday, June 19, is the Juneteenth holiday and government facilities will be closed. However, Mayor Schor has authorized the Letts Community Center to be open from 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. to serve as a cooling center. In addition, the CATA Transportation Center downtown will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. that day.
Lansing’s four community centers and their hours this week include:
- Foster Community Center, 200 N. Foster St., Lansing, 48912
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (Closed Wednesday): 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Gier Community Center, 2400 Hall St., Lansing, 48906
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (Closed Wednesday): 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Letts Community Center, 1220 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, 48915
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center, 5825 Wise Rd., Lansing, 48911
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (Closed Wednesday): 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
“Finding a place to get out of the heat can be a challenge for some of our residents. Lansing has several options available and we encourage anyone who needs a cool place to relax to take advantage of these locations. We have taken these special measures to ensure that City facilities are open and available for those who need someplace to get out of the intense heat,” Mayor Schor stated.
Other options for residents in need of air-conditioned spaces include the Capital Area District Library branches, the Neighborhood Empowerment Center and the CATA Transportation Center. Families looking to beat the heat can also visit the Hunter Park Pool to take a swim and cool off. In addition, Ingham County Parks will waive vehicle entrance fees at all County parks, including Hawk Island County Park. Hawk Island, on the city’s southside, includes a beach and splash pad.
CATA has offered free rides to anyone who needs transportation to a local cooling center. Pets will be allowed in community centers this week, as long as they are in carriers or crates.
Advent House Ministries, 743 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., will open their day center Monday through Saturday this week from 8 am. – 7 p.m. In addition, they will be open on Wednesday, June 19. The Code Red declaration allows shelters to extend their capacity limits to allow for more individuals to come inside and get out of the heat.
As this heat sets in, Lansing residents, specifically young children and the elderly, are encouraged to take precautions to keep themselves safe. Remember to:
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
- Limit outdoor activities to the morning or evening, when temperatures cool down.
- Wear lightweight, bright clothes.
- Apply sunscreen regularly.
- Spend more time indoors or spaces with air conditioning.
- Check on the wellbeing of vulnerable neighbors, friends and family members.
- Avoid keeping pets outside for extended amounts of time, and keep their paws off hot pavement.
- Look for the signs of heat-related illnesses. If symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, increased sweating, fever, dizziness or weakness occur, find an air-conditioned space immediately, increase your fluid intake and call 9-1-1.
For more information, please visit the City website at LansingMI.gov/CoolingCenters or call 2-1-1 for access to additional resources.
