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Pasadena Extends Its Cooling Center Two More Days as Heat Persists

The city says the North Fair Oaks Avenue site will be open Friday and Saturday for residents needing relief from the heat

Published on Friday, August 21, 2026 | 6:35 am
 

[photo credit: City of Pasadena]
After a string of days in the 90s that are now projected to continue into the weekend, the City of Pasadena is extending the run of its cooling center for two more days — moving the operation to Robinson Park Recreation Center in the northwest part of the city.

The center, at 1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue, will operate as an official cooling center from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, and again on Saturday, Aug. 22, according to a City of Pasadena announcement posted to the city’s Facebook page. It offers an air-conditioned place to sit out the heat — and it is a different site than the one the city used earlier in the week.

In its post, the city said it opened the center because extreme heat is expected through the rest of the week. The announcement bills the site as a new location for the cooling center. Robinson Park Recreation Center is a separate facility from the Jackie Robinson Community Center at 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue, about a block south, which the city ran as its cooling center from Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 18 through 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. That earlier activation followed a National Weather Service heat advisory covering parts of Los Angeles County.

Cooling centers are air-conditioned sites meant to give relief especially to residents most at risk when temperatures climb — older adults, young children and people without air conditioning at home. Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis has warned that heat “causes more deaths in the U.S. annually than floods, storms, and lightning combined,” and county officials have urged residents to stay hydrated, limit midday activity and check on older neighbors.

Using the room to cool off carries no requirement to sign up for a class or program. Residents who need accessibility information or requests can contact the city at CSC@cityofpasadena.net or (626) 744-7311. For those outside city limits, Los Angeles County lists additional cooling centers, splash pads and pools at ready.lacounty.gov/heat or through its 211 information line.

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