Region’s seniors beating heat at 4 cooling centers

Pittsburgh’s Parks and Recreation Department activated four Healthy Active Living senior centers as cooling centers Wednesday and Thursday due to high temperatures.

Keith McBroom, who works at the Greenfield center, said it was “pretty busy” due to the heat. He added that the few dozen people who came in the morning had left by the early afternoon after eating lunch.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for much of southwestern Pennsylvania, where temperatures in the 90s were forecast.

Wednesday saw a high of 92 degrees recorded by the NWS at its Moon station. The record temperature for the date is 96 degrees, recorded in 1994.

At the South Side center, people were cooling down at long tables while also warming up for future events.

Kristin Coyne, the center’s director, said it was important to operate the cooling center so residents can step out of the heat for a little while, especially if they don’t have air conditioning at home. Around 20 people came in on Wednesday, she said.

“It’s very beneficial for them,” she said.

Dottie Beck, of Mount Oliver, was at the center for lunch and also to prepare for an upcoming farmers market. Ms. Beck, who has been going to the center since 2018 and serves as secretary for its board, said the center has various activities such as arts and crafts to keep residents busy during the day.

“Everyone here seems to get along well,” she said, adding that new people are “always welcome” to stop by.

Thursday will see similar temperatures in the low 90s, with thunderstorms possible as the day goes on.

Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette photos Deborah Smith-Glover, 62, left, and Charlotte Walters, 69, chat while cooling off at the South Side Market House Healthy Active Living center. Ms. Smith-Glover is recreation leader at the center; Ms. Walters is from the Hill District. “This is a big family,” Ms. Walters said. “Everybody treats you so well — especially Deborah. She’s the ‘Welcoming Committee.’”

While temperatures hover in the mid-90s, Delores Clements, 71, left, and Dottie Beck, 70, chat with friends Wednesday while cooling off at the South Side Market House Healthy Active Living Community Center. Ms. Clements lives on the South Side; Ms. Becks is from Mount Oliver.