These cooling centers will open at 1pm Friday and remain open 24/7Photo: Dreamstime.com free images
(Courtesy Nicole Hayden/Oregon Live)
Amid scorching temperature predictions for the weekend, officials announced Thursday morning that Portland-area cooling centers will be open 24 hours a day, not close at 9 p.m. as originally planned.
The three centers will open their doors at 1 p.m. Friday and remain available through Monday at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; the Sunrise Center, 18901 East Burnside Street; and a county-owned shelter in a former Rite Aid in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood, 1952 North Lombard Street. The centers will also welcome pets.
Individuals without transportation can call 211 for a free ride to one of the centers. Trimet will also not turn people away who aren’t able to pay.
Other cooling centers include:
- Street Roots, 211 Northwest Davis Street, will have a misting and water station set up under a shade canopy Saturday through Monday.
- Blanchet House, 310 Northwest Glisan Street, will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day but Sunday and will be handing out water and summer care kits which include sunscreen.
- A cooling station will be set up near Southeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Southeast Morrison Street starting at 10 a.m. Sunday. Organizers will provide water, ice, fans, first aid, snacks and a pet cooling station.
- In Tualatin, the Juanita Pohl Center, 8513 Southwest Tualatin Road, will be open as a cooling center from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.
- Portland library branches will be open noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Monday. The branches include Capitol Hill Library, 10723 Southwest Capitol Highway, Gresham Library, 382 Northwest Miller Avenue, Kenton Library, 8226 North Denver Avenue, Holgate Library, 7905 Southeast Holgate Boulevard and Midland Library, 805 Southeast 122nd Avenue.
- Beaverton City Library, 12375 Southwest 5th Street, will be open during regular hours as well as 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
- Wingspan Event and Conference Center, 801 Northeast 34th Avenue in Hillsboro, will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Monday. This is a pet-friendly location.
Nicole Hayden reports on homelessness for The Oregonian|OregonLive. She can be reached at nhayden@oregonian.com or on Twitter @Nicole_A_Hayden.
Kudos Nicole for outstanding coverage when we need it most! :)