Belmont is shuffling its heat relief plans for the holiday, shifting the town’s July 4 cooling center to the Morrissey Hall Community Room at the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave. The library site will be open Saturday, July 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone needing a break from the swelter. The new location replaces the Beech Street Center at 266 Beech St.
If you are more of a splash-and-go type, the Underwood Pool next door on Concord Avenue is sticking with its regular schedule, running its normal hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The town explained the move in a news flash ahead of the holiday, spelling out the temporary location switch and listing the relief hours. The update included a “Message from the Belmont Health Department” that urges residents to take heat precautions and to keep an eye on official town channels for any changes. According to the Town of Belmont, the town's emergency page offers additional resources for residents trying to stay cool and informed.
The change is happening as the National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for much of southern New England, warning of dangerously hot, humid conditions through the holiday weekend. Local forecasts and meteorologists said heat indexes could climb into the high 90s and above, making outdoor activity risky for vulnerable residents, according to Boston.com.
The Belmont Health Department notes that persistent exposure to high heat and humidity can lead to heat-related illness, and the town is urging residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned buildings, avoid direct sunlight and check on relatives and neighbors who might struggle in the heat. The Health Department also warns residents not to leave children or pets in parked cars under any circumstance and encourages people without home cooling to head to designated town sites for a break from the heat, per the Belmont Health Department.
Where To Go For Relief
The Morrissey Hall Community Room at the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave., will serve as the town’s cooling center on Saturday, July 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Underwood Pool, right next door, will stay open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering its usual hours for anyone who prefers water over air conditioning. The library location is temporarily taking over for the usual Beech Street Center site at 266 Beech St. For a local rundown of the switch, plus a quick reference on hours and heat safety advice, see The Belmontonian.
