City of Kingston opens Artillery Park as cooling centre

As of noon on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the City of Kingston has opened the gym at the Artillery Park Aquatic Centre as a cooling centre.

This comes the same day Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the area, with daytime temperatures reaching just above 30 degrees Celsius each day of this week until Friday, May 29, 2020, when a low front is expected to bring some relief from the extreme heat.

According to the City of Kingston, the gym has been set up to accommodate two metres of physical distancing, and those wishing to cool down in the facility will be asked a few simple questions at the door to screen them for COVID-19 symptoms.

Artillery Park will be open until 8 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, May 26, 2020) and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28, 2020. Artillery Park is located at 382 Bagot Street

The City also offers the following cooling centres, some of which will be set up for this week only:

• The City’s Housing and Social Services Office at 362 Montreal St. also has very minimal space available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
• The Kingston Community Health Centre at 263 Weller Ave. is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Tomorrow and Thursday, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library will open two of its branches, only for cooling, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
  • Isabel Turner Branch, 935 Gardiners Road
  • Calvin Park Branch, 88 Wright Crescent