Worcester Expands Cooling Centers As Heat Wave Arrives

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester residents will have a few new options to cool down this week, with the city opening new cooling centers during a potentially record-breaking heat wave.

Worcester in recent years has offered the senior center and main Worcester Public Library as cooling centers during regular hours. This week, the city will offer South High Community High School and the St. Xavier Center along Temple Street as new options.

The new centers come after a few years of planning for extreme weather events.

At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen in 2022 asked former city manager Ed Augustus to explore expanding heating and cooling center offerings, an effort backed by councilors Candy Mero-Carlson and Etel Haxhiaj and former councilor Sarai Rivera.

Worcester emergency management director Charles Goodwin presented an updated disaster plan to councilors in January 2023. In it, Goodwin introduced several new initiatives, including an expansion of heating and cooling centers open during summer and winter extremes. At the time, City Manager Eric Batista told councilors local colleges might be used as heating and cooling centers.

All cooling centers open this week are located along WRTA bus routes, and buses are still totally free to ride.

Here's the schedule for cooling centers this week. Each one will have bottled water available. The heat is forecast to peak on Thursday at nearly 100 in Worcester.

Tuesday

• Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Worcester Public Library Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday

• St. Xavier Center, 20 Temple St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday

• Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Worcester Public Library Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• South High Community High School, 170 Apricot St., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday

• Worcester Public Library Main Branch, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• South High Community High School, 170 Apricot St., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.