Keeping Cool Pondside at Town Hall

So how does Lindenhurst stay cool when the temperature has soared to a sweltering 92 degrees, with even higher heat indexes, and the National Weather Service has issued a in effect until 9 p.m. tonight?

For many, the obvious answer is hit backyard and sprinklers, visit one of the pools, including the one in North Lindenhurst or head to one of the or where there’s a the beach and boat launch, plus a sprinkler park.

But some residents preferred the shade of trees and the breeze at the pond at Babylon Town Hall on East Sunrise Highway today.

Lindenhurst Patch spoke to some residents who were taking in the sights and sounds of the fountain while sitting and even eating a little lunch purchased from the across the street.

Few braved the sun on the playground as the place to take refuge was under the trees where it seemed to be 10 degrees cooler than the actual midday temps that weren’t even close to being done climbing.

Lindenhurst resident Kati Sivak came with her 19-month-old daughter Juliana to have a little fun in the sun, an idea that was quickly thwarted.

“The playground was too hot,” she said. “Here, it’s cooler.”

Liz Barry, who works in the town’s code enforcement office sat pondside in the shade on her lunch hour, oblivious to the Sunrise traffic.

“There’s a nice breeze. I’m in the shade. It’s beautiful, perfect,” said Barry, a former Lindy resident who now lives in Bay Shore. “It’s a nice way to spend the time.”

Jennifer Marshall and Samantha Kwaak, from ACLD in Hauppauge, a non-profit “dayhibilitation” center for adults and children with learning disabilities brought their group of adults to one of the picnic tables under the pondside trees for a lunch of burgers and fries.

It proved to be a nice respite after delivering food to residents in Lindenhurst and elsewhere nearby as volunteers for Meals on Wheels.

“The center has recreational and volunteer opportunities for them, and this is one of them,” explained Marshall and Kwaak, an ACLD supervisor and specialist, respectively.

“Thursday’s our official recreation day, but we thought it’d be nice to stop here and have some lunch,” Marshall said.

Indeed, their group of nine was enjoying the shade, mostly sitting together, with a few sitting on the benches closer to the pond.

“It’s been nice and cool here,” Kwaak added.

Editor’s Note: Click for more to stay cool as the temps soar.