A new cooling center opened Thursday in Tucson to help people escape the summer heat by providing a safe and comfortable place to recover and relax.
The new center is located at The Amazon, a shelter operated by the Housing First Division, at 1135 W. Miracle Mile.
Two new COOLtainers, provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services and the governor’s office, will help Tucsonans keep out of the heat. Visitors can nap or rest inside the “quiet COOLtainer,” or utilize board games, dominos, cards, adult coloring books, snacks and hygiene items in the second COOLtainer.
“The cooling centers are needed for the obvious reason of our increasing summer high temperatures,” said Ernesto Portillo, a Tucson Housing & Community Development spokesman. “(They) give people a chance to get out of the sun, get out of the heat, to rest and relax.”
In addition to the pods, Tucson Housing and Community Development’s portable shower will be available at the Amazon, but that schedule has not yet been released.
The Amazon cooling center will be open from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays until Aug. 31.
The new cooling site adds to six existing cooling centers operated by the city. They are open from noon to 4 p.m. daily through Aug. 31. However, the centers are closed on holidays.
The other Tucson cooling centers are:
Donna Liggins Center, 2160 N. Sixth Ave.
El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road, Building #9
El Rio Center, 1390 W. Speedway Blvd.
Freedom Center, 5000 E. 29th St.
Morris K. Udall Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Randolph Center, 200 S. Alvernon Way.
St. Francis Shelter is also operating a cooling center at the Ward 3 Office, 1510 E. Grant Road, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.
