Cooling centers? Pools? How you can escape the heat around Wilmington as temps climb

Summer is here.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects abnormally hot weather headed for the First State, while May and June have already proved dry and stifling for much of the Northeast.

For Delaware’s largest city, First Street research warns of more than a 50-50 chance of at least one heat wave lasting more than three days of temperatures "feeling like" 103 degrees. Last summer brought several. In 30 years, the likelihood jumps to 77% in Wilmington. Such dog days are already on the mind.

What is in the works locally?

• The Wilmington area is set to execute heat mapping this summer in partnership with NOAA — capturing, block-to-block, just who carries the brunt of heat’s unequal burden. Neighborhoods are no strangers to “urban heat island effect,” where temperatures intensify among dark surfaces and few trees.

• Advocates have come together to create “Code Orange” — a network of unofficial cooling centers throughout the city to flex during peak hours of heat index, or combined heat and humidity, during an extremely hot day or a string of days — for populations facing homelessness in both Wilmington and Newark.

• A Delaware Resiliency Hub has kicked off in Northeast Wilmington, planning to coordinate cooling centers and resource efforts throughout the city focused in part on heat preparedness.

So, where can you go to stay cool in and around Wilmington today?

[This is not an exhaustive list, please reach out if you think of something else that should be added as a public place to cool off in New Castle County: kepowers@gannett.com.]

Wait, first: Why should I care?

In general, growing heat puts your health — elevating risks of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, various respiratory issues and other diseases — at risk. Children, older adults, people who work outside, people with underlying health conditions and people with limited access to cooling are particularly at risk.

This state is tied with Arizona as the fourth-fastest warming state. Average temperatures are projected to increase 2.5 to 4.5 degrees by 2050, from 2012 averages. That could rise up to 8 degrees by 2100, according to DNREC, in the worst emissions scenario.

People can certainly adapt to hotter weather, but doing so will require many who haven't dealt with severe heat to consider and plan for it.

"It's very concerning from a public health standpoint," said Susan Love, Climate and Sustainability section administrator. "If you cannot escape the heat, your body eventually shuts down."

This more extreme heat future will likely demand physical adaptation, according to First Street’s national report on hazardous heat. That will mean planning for emergency heat events, from checking on residents, to creating more official cooling centers and ensuring people can reach them.

Without formal cooling centers, Delaware officials have at times urged residents across the state to head to community centers and libraries to cool off during extended periods of extreme temperatures, without price tags. Wilmington also has various pools and spray parks.

Experts say more will be needed.

First State Risk: Climate change impact is intensifying everywhere. Do you know where Delaware's risk ranks?

How can I stay cool in Wilmington?

City Pools: June 26 to Aug. 17 (Full 2023 schedule)

• Eden Park Pool — New Castle and City avenues

• Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Aquatic Center — 26th Street and Speakman Place

• Foster Brown Pool — 7th and Lombard streets

• William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center — 501 N. Madison St. (Indoor) (Adult Swim available Monday to Friday)

• P.S. DuPont Middle School — 701 W. 34th St. (Indoor)

Spray Parks: Open until Labor Day, Sep. 4, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day

• Helen Chambers Park — 6th and Madison streets

• Mack Park — West 6th Street and North Ford Avenue

• Father Tucker Park — 9th and Lincoln streets

• Kosciusko Park — 601 S. Franklin Street

• Woodlawn Park — 4th and Ferris Streets

• Rodney Square — 10th and King Streets

• Judy Johnson Park and Brown-Cihocki are undergoing repairs.

'Code Orange': Advocates say Delaware can't forget homelessness in extreme heat

Another angle: What Wilmington’s new deputy director of Parks and Rec has planned for city centers

New Castle County Community/Recreation Centers

• William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center — 501 N. Madison St., Wilmington(302) 571-4266

• Kingswood Community Center — 2300 Bowers St., Wilmington (302) 764-9022

• Latin American Community Center — 403 N Van Buren St, Wilmington(302) 655-7338

• Brandywine — 4050 Brandywine Parkway, Wilmington (302) 571-4004

• Garfield Park — 26 Karlyn Drive, New Castle (302) 571-4004

• Hockessin — 7259 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin  (302) 239-8861

• Glasgow Park Bank Barn & Frazer House — U.S. 40 and Del. 896, Bear 302-395-5651

• Whitehall — 735 Mapleton Ave., Middletown 302-378-5599

[This is not an exhaustive list, please reach out if you think of something else that should be added as a public place to cool off in New Castle County: kepowers@gannett.com.]

New Castle County Libraries (Full list of hours)

• North Wilmington — 3400 North Market St., Wilmington  (302) 761-4290

• Wilmington — 10th and Market streets, Wilmington 19801 (302) 571-7400

• Appoquinimink — 651 North Broad St., Middletown  (302) 378-5588

• Bear — 101 Governor's Place, Bear (302) 838-3300

• Brandywine Hundred — 1300 Foulk Road, Wilmington Phone: (302) 477-3150

• Claymont — 400 Lenape Way, Claymont  (302) 798-4164

• Corbit-Calloway Memorial — 2nd and High streets, Odessa (302) 378-8838

• Elsmere — 30 Spruce Ave., Wilmington  (302) 892-2210

• Garfield Park — 26 Karlyn Drive, New Castle (302) 571-7312

• Hockessin Public Library — 1023 Valley Road, Hockessin (302) 239-5160

• Kirkwood — 6000 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington (302) 995-7663

• Woodlawn — 2020 West Ninth St., Wilmington (302) 571-7425

• Delaware City — 250 Fifth St., Delaware City (302) 834-4148

• New Castle — 424 Delaware St., New Castle 19720 (302) 328-1995

• Newark — 750 Library Ave., Newark (302) 731-7550

• Route 9 Library & Innovation Center — 3022 New Castle Ave., New Castle (302) 657-8020

Get involved: Do you feel more summer heat than other Wilmington areas? Mapping study aims to find out

Video: Activities abound at the Hicks Anderson Community Center in Wilmington

What can I do to beat the heat?

• Drink water throughout the day and evening. Bring it along with you if you leave the house. Keep a close eye on children, babies and older adults, ensuring they stay hydrated. Pets also need cool places and water to drink. 

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as both of these substances promote dehydration.

• Cool as much of the body’s surface as possible — taking a cold bath, using ice towels on the face, hands or feet, cooling with a fan. 

• Avoid the sun and strenuous activities as much as possible, during hours of peak heat index, often in the early afternoon.

• Check in with friends and family, especially if they don’t have efficient AC. 

• Wear light-colored, lightweight clothes and open shoes. 

• Sleep cool, too. Use cotton linen; sleep as low to the ground as possible. 

• Inside, keep electric lights turned down and avoid using the oven.

• Close curtains to reduce heat passing through the home.

Have a story to tell? Delaware Online/The News Journal is placing a special emphasis on reporting about heat impact this summer, as part of an ongoing Perilous Course project with USA TODAY Network. Contact this reporter at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: How can you stay cool around Wilmington as summer heat climbs?