Aurora Opens Cooling Center Amid Summer Heat Wave

AURORA, IL — Aurora officials have opened a cooling center at the Aurora Transportation Center as temperatures approach triple digits. Temperatures in Illinois are set to be in the 90s all week, with heat index values between 100 and 105 on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

The air-conditioned transportation center, located at 233 N. Broadway Ave. is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for anyone who needs to retreat from the heat. Anyone who enters the center must wear a mask and practice social distancing while inside, city officials said.

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Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said in a news release that the city activated the transportation center as a cooling center because some of its partners that usually provide air-conditioned spaces are unable to safely reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. The majority of the city’s traditional cooling centers are closed to the public under phase 4 guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan, officials said.

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Aurora Public Library officials are set to reopen Monday as cooling centers, the release states. Anyone who wishes to use one of its branch locations must call ahead, and they must wear masks while inside the libraries, officials said. Appointments can be made for one-hour periods, the release states.

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“The library is committed to providing this vital service for our community,” Executive Director Michaela Haberkern said in the release. “As we reopen our branches on an appointment-only schedule, we’ll also offer limited seating where residents can cool off during these hot days.”

The Aurora Public Library system has three locations: Santori Library, 101 S. River St.; Eola Branch, 555 S. Eola Road; and West Branch, 233 S. Constitution Dr.

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Aurora Public Library cooling center hours:
12-6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
12-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
No public hours Friday and Sunday