Where To Cool Off In Forest Hills Amid Heat Advisory

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — With a heat advisory in place for Thursday, New Yorkers are looking for ways to cool off and escape the scorching heat.

High temperatures will reach into the 90s Thursday and could approach 100 degrees Friday as heat and humidity move into the region, forecasters warned.

In Forest Hills, residents can choose between a handful of spray showers scattered through parks and playgrounds.

“Heat is deadly, and climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and even more dangerous, especially for vulnerable New Yorkers, so it is absolutely critical that we take care of ourselves and each other,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan.

From Thursday through Saturday, the city will open cooling centers throughout the five boroughs. The cooling center finder will activate its website Wednesday evening.

Forest Hills residents looking for other options can visit their local parks and playgrounds for spray showers.

The sites include:

• Willow Lake Playground (72nd Avenue and 112th Street)
• Ehrenreich-Austin Playground (7633 Austin St.)
• Yellowstone Park (106-21 68th Ave.)
• Annadale Playground (64th Road and Yellowstone Boulevard)

Although Forest Hills residents are free from heat vulnerability, the conditions around surrounding areas don't rely on the same resources.

Richmond Hill and Corona, for example, have a heat vulnerability index of 4, making them among the areas with the second-highest risk of heat injury or death.

All spray showers, outdoor pools, and drinking fountains can be found here.