NJ heat wave: Keep cool at cooling centers, swimming pools – NorthJersey.com

North Jersey is set to scorch, with temperatures forecast in the high-90s through the weekend. With a heat wave looming over the the region, it’s more important than ever to find ways to stay cool.

Local pools are one option, and many in North Jersey offer day passes as a way for people to enjoy a respite. The heat wave is supposed to extend into early next week, and as a result, local counties and municipalities also are opening cooling centers for those who need them.

With multiple options for cooling off across North Jersey counties, here are some ways to take a break from soaking up all the heat:

Community pools with daily passes

Palisades Park Pool Complex offers daily passes for all New Jersey residents, starting at $15 for Palisades Park residents and $20 for other New Jersey residents. The pool is open from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays and weekends for guests using the daily pass. Guests must have a state-issued driver’s license to enter, and must pay with cash for the daily pass.

The Graydon Pool in Ridgewood also offers $15 daily passes for residents of Ridgewood and $20 daily passes for their non-resident sponsored guests. The pool is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until Aug. 5. 

Residents of Paramus can purchase day passes for the Paramus Municipal Pool for $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Day passes can be purchased only on weekdays, when the pool is open from noon to 7 p.m., but residents can buy weekend passes if they want to cool off on the weekend.

If you are looking for a place with plenty of outdoor activities, take the family to the Highland Natural Pool in Ringwood to enjoy swimming in the spring-fed pool, open fields to play sports and hiking trails for all experience levels. There is a fenced-in shallow area for beginner swimmers that slopes down to 4 feet deep, and a larger section for experienced swimmers that slopes down to 10 feet deep. Swimmers under 18 years old must pass a swimming test to go into the deeper ends. The pool is open from noon to 6 p.m. daily, and day passes cost $17 for adults and $10 for children 17 and younger.

In Union County, the Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool in Rahway River Park has affordable day passes for residents and non-residents to purchase. Residents of Union County must bring a photo ID to buy adult day passes for $5 and youth day passes for $4. Non-residents of Union County can buy adult day passes for $10 and youth day passes for $8 each. The pool is open from noon to 6 p.m. daily.

The Westfield Memorial Pool also offers daily guest passes, but at a more expensive rate than most places, with a $40 price tag for any guest older than 3 unless you know a member of the pool, with a rate of $10 per person. The pool is equipped with two water slides, swimming lanes and a children’s pool, and is open from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends.

There are also a number of free splash parks available across North Jersey that let kids run through sprinklers and other water activities. Bergen County is home to Van Saun Park, at 216 Forest Ave., Paramus, with an ADA-accessible water sprinkler park that is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no entrance fee, and has large lily pad and cattail misters to cool down kids on a hot day.

In Hudson County, James J. Braddock Park at 9003 Bergenline Ave., North Bergen, also has a splash pad adjacent to a large, castle-themed playground, and is free to enter.

In Morris County, the Pirate’s Cove Splash Pad in Mount Olive is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and has a water dumping bucket and an in-ground sprinkling pad that runs seasonally.

There is also a splash pad at Watsessing Park in Bloomfield that has water spray equipment and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, weather permitting.

Bergen County cooling centers

The following locations will remain open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, July 22, unless different times are noted.

  • Bergenfield
    • Bergenfield Senior Center, 293 Murray Hill Terrace, 201-387-7212
  • East Rutherford
    • Southwest Bergen Senior Activity Center, 147 Hackensack St., 201-935-8920
  • Garfield
    • Garfield Senior Activity Center, 480 Midland Ave., 973-478-0502
  • Hackensack
    • County Administration Building, One Bergen County Plaza, first floor, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 201-336-7300 
  • Midland Park
    • Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center, 46-50 Center St., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 201-445-5690
  • Paramus
    • Bergen County Community Services Building, 327 E. Ridgewood Ave., assembly room, 201-343-6000
  • Teaneck
    • Richard Rodda Center, 250 Colonial Court, second-floor art studio, Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., weekends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Passaic County cooling centers

  • Paterson
    • Paterson Public Library, 250 Broadway, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 973-321-1223
  • Clifton
    • Clifton Public Library, 292 Piaget Ave., 973-772-5500 
    • Clifton Public Library, 44 Lyall Road, 973-471-0555
  • Wayne
    • Wayne Public Library, 461 Valley Road, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 to 5 p.m., 973-694-4272
  • Woodland Park
    • Public Library, 7 Brophy Lane, Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 973-345-8120
  • West Milford
    • West Milford Public Library, 1470 Union Valley Road, Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m., 973-728-2820
  • Hawthorne
    • Hawthorne Public Library, 345 Lafayette Ave., Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 973-427-5745
  • Haledon
    • Haledon Senior Center, 510 Belmont Ave., 973-595-7766 
  • North Haledon 
    • 129 Overlook Ave., 973-427-6213 
  • Ringwood
    • Ringwood Public Library, 30 Cannici Drive, Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 973-962-6256
  • Prospect Park
    • Municipal Building, Second Floor, 106 Brown Ave, Wednesday-Friday noon-7 p.m., Weekends noon-6 p.m.

Essex County cooling centers

  • Maplewood
    • Any resident in need of cooling center access should contact the police non-emergency line at 973-762-1234. Once the cooling center is open, residents will travel or be transported to the cooling center from the Municipal Court.
  • Montclair
    • Montclair Municipal Building Council Chamber, 205 Claremont Ave., Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Montclair Public Library main branch, 50 South Fullerton Ave., Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Montclair Public Library Bellevue Avenue branch, 185 Bellevue Ave., Monday 2 to 6 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday 2 to 6 p.m.
  • Newark (senior citizens only)
    • Bethany Baptist Church/Bethany Senior Citizen Center, 275 W. Market St. (entrance 58 Hartford St.), Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Ironbound Senior Citizen Center, 226 Rome St., Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Boylan Senior Citizen Center, 916 South Orange St., Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Vince Lombardi Center, 201 Bloomfield Ave., Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Nellie Grier Senior Citizen Center, 98-104 Maple Ave., Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Morris County cooling centers

To reach any of the Morris County centers, call the number listed.

  • Boonton Township
    • Municipal Building, 155 Powerville Road; call police dispatch: 973-402-4000, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Butler  
    • Police Department Community Room, 10 High St., police dispatch 973-838-4100; hours as needed
  • Chatham
    • Library of the Chathams, 214 Main St., police dispatch 973-635-8000, hours as needed
  • Chester Borough            
    • Town Hall, 50 North Road, police dispatch 908-879-5514, normal business hours Monday to Friday
  • Chester Township         
    • Municipal Building, 1 Parker Road, police dispatch 908-879-5514, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Library, West Main St., 908-879-7612    
  • Denville             
    • Library, 121 Diamond Spring Road, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 973-627-6555
    • Town Hall Community Room, 1 St. Mary’s Place, Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 201-919-1501
  • Dover  
    • Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 E. Blackwell St., police dispatch, 973-366-0302, Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    • St. John’s Episcopal Church, 11 S. Bergen St., police dispatch 973-366-0302, hours as needed (24/7)
  • East Hanover
    • Senior Center, 96 Mount Pleasant Ave., police dispatch 973-887-0432, hours as needed
    • Recreational Center, Fifth Street, police dispatch 973-887-0432, hours as needed
  • Florham Park   
    • Senior Center, 111 Ridgedale Ave., police dispatch 973-377-2206, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • First Aid Squad, 60 Felch Road, police dispatch 973-377-2206, as needed
    • Borough Hall, 111 Ridgedale Ave., police dispatch 973-377-2206, as needed
  • Hanover Township
    • Community Center, 15 North Jefferson Road, police dispatch 973-428-2512, Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., after hours/weekends, contact police
  • Harding               
    • Municipal Building, 21 Blue Mill Road, police dispatch 973-455-0500, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., other days/times as needed
  • Jefferson Township       
    • Municipal Complex, 1033 Weldon Road, police dispatch 973-697-1300, as needed
  • Kinnelon
    • Kinnelon Library, 132 Kinnelon Road, Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 973-838-1321
    • Borough Hall, 130 Kinnelon Road, Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., weekends as needed, 973-838-5401, police dispatch 973-838-5400 (after hours)
  • Lincoln Park     
    • Borough Hall, 34 Chapel St., 973-694-3519, police dispatch 973-694-5533 (after hours)  8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Long Hill
    • Long Hill Library, 917 Valley Road, police dispatch 908-647-1800, as needed
  • Mendham Borough & Mendham Township       
    • Public Library, 10 Hilltop Road, borough dispatch 973-543-2993, township dispatch 973-543-2581, Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Mine Hill            
    • Mine Hill Civic Center, 12 Baker St., 973-366-9031, as needed
  • Morristown      
    • Market Street Mission, 9 Market St., 973-538-0431, as needed
    • Morristown Town Hall, 200 South St., Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Morris Plains    
    • Community Center, 51 Jim Fear Drive, 973-538-3455, police dispatch 973-538-2284 (after hours), Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as needed
  • Morris Township
    • Town Hall, 50 Woodland Ave., police dispatch 973-539-0777, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., evenings/weekends as needed
  • Montville
    • Montville Senior House 356 Main Road, police dispatch 973-257-4300, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday/Sunday as needed
  • Mount Arlington   
    • Civic Center, 18 N. Glen Ave, police dispatch 973-398-2100, as needed
  • Mountain Lakes             
    • Library, 9 Elm Road, police dispatch 973-334-1413, as needed
  • Mount Olive     
    • Senior Center, 204 Flanders Drakestown Road, police dispatch 973-691-0850, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Netcong
    • Municipal Building, 23 Maple Ave., police dispatch 973-347-7700, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Fire Company 1, 40 Maple Ave., as needed
    • Fire Company 2 Hilltop, 49 College Road, as needed
  • Parsippany       
    • Lake Hiawatha Library, 68 Nokomis Ave., police dispatch 973-263-4300, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Mount Tabor Library, 31 Trinity Park, police dispatch 973-263-4301, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Community Center, 1130 Knoll Road, police dispatch 973-263-4302, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Parsippany Library, 449 Halsey Road, police dispatch 973-263-4303, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Road, 973-335-0555, Saturday/Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Pequannock     
    • Senior House, 530 Newark-Pompton Turnpike
  • Pompton Plains
    • Police dispatch 973-835-1700, as needed
  • Randolph
    • Randolph Library, 28 Calais Road, 973-895-3556, police dispatch 973-989-7010 (after hours), Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Riverdale           
    • Library, 93 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, 973-835-5044, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday
  • Rockaway Borough
    • Library, 82 East Main St., 973-627-5709, police dispatch 973-627-1314 (after hours), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Community Center, 21 Union St., as needed
    • Rockaway Assembly of God, 113 East Main St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Rockaway Township     
    • Public Library, 61 Mount Hope Road, 973-627-2344, police dispatch 973-625-4000, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday/Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Senior Center, 19 Mount Hope Road, as needed
    • Marcella Fire House, 20 Upper Hibernia, as needed
    • Marcella Community House, 831 Green Pond Road, as needed
    • Green Pond Bible Chapel, 1083 Green Pond Road, as needed
    • Town Hall and Police Department, 65 Mount Hope Road, as needed
  • Roxbury             
    • Roxbury Library, 103 Main St., Succasunna, police dispatch 973-448-2100, as needed
    • Victory Gardens Fire House, 425 Washington Ave., Fire Department 973-361-8121, as needed
  • Washington Township 
    • Library, 37 East Springtown Road, 908-876-3596, police dispatch 908-876-3232 (after hours), Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Rock Spring Park, Senior Center, 34 East Springtown Road, 908-876-9496, as needed
  • Wharton 
    • Municipal Building, 10 Robert St., police dispatch 973-366-0557, as needed
    • Wharton Library, 15 South Main St., as needed
Acadia Samucha, 3, plays in a fountain at Veteran's Memorial Park in Passaic during a hot summer day on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Signs of heat stroke

As the temperature continues to rise over the next few days, be sure to keep an eye on any signs of heat stroke, especially in children or older adults who spend time outside or indoors without air conditioning. 

The most common causes of heat stroke are exposure to hot environments and strenuous activities in hot weather, such as running or intense exercises, according to the Mayo Clinic. Wearing excessive clothing, drinking alcohol and becoming dehydrated in the hot weather can also lead to heat stroke.   

A high body temperature, flushed skin and alteration in sweating are all signs of heat stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. The skin may be dry and hot to the touch if brought on by hot weather, and the skin will be dry to slightly moist if the heat stroke is brought on by excessive exercise. 

Other common symptoms of heat stroke include nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing or heart rate, and a headache. Heat stroke symptoms may also include showing an altered mental state or behavior, such as slurring your speech, being confused or delirious and having seizures.  

If you suspect that a person is having a heat stroke, seek immediate medical help by calling 911, as heat strokes can cause long-term damage or death. Until help arrives, keep the person cool in a shaded or indoor area, remove excess layers of clothing and cool down the person with cool water from whatever is available, like a hose or cool tub of water, or pat them down with ice packs or cold, wet towels, according to the Mayo Clinic.  

Prevent heat stroke by wearing lightweight clothing in hot weather, limiting outdoor exposure during the hottest time of the day and staying hydrated with plenty of fluids.