City Offers More Great Ways to Beat the Heat During Summer

As temperatures rise, Albuquerque families have more options to help beat the heat. The City just opened its newest splash pad at the brand new Westgate Community Center and is adding another one at the Alamosa Community Center, expanding the City’s network of aquatics facilities.

“Our splash pads are an active and convenient way to stay cool with the entire family as temperatures rise,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “With all of the new investments made for Albuquerque families in recent years, we’ve got you covered in all quadrants across the City.”

Albuquerque has already hit 100 degrees five times this summer, hitting these triple digits a month earlier than last year. According to the National Weather Service, here’s how many days it’s hit at least 100 degrees in Albuquerque over the past few years:

• 2018 – 3 days
• 2019 – 2 days
• 2020 – 5 days
• 2021 – 5 days
• 2023 – 17 days

According to the Environmental Health Department, over 60,000 emergency room visits are made each year in the metro due to heat-related illness. Here are some tools the department recommends to help keep you and your family safe this summer:

• Know the symptoms

• Heat Stroke: Body temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, nausea, dizziness, and a fast, strong pulse.
• Heat Exhaustion: Heavy sweating, muscle cramps, clammy skin, and a fast, weak pulse.

• Download the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App. It can help alert you to potentially hazardous conditions, provide suggestions for staying safe, and outline signs, symptoms, and care for heat-related illness.
• Download and print the City’s Beat the Heat flyer.

The City has already activated “Operation Cooldown 2024” twice this year on days where the high temperature was predicted to reach at least 100 degrees. Sprinklers are turned on in selected parks, one in each quadrant, during each day it’s activated. Sprinkler play like this gives families a fun, no-cost way to cool off.

The City’s splash pads are a great resource for families to help stay children stay entertained and cool this summer. Most of the City’s splash pads are also free to use.

“More splash pads means more family fun,” said Parks & Recreation Department Director Dave Simon. “City pools are also open and offer great options for recreational swim, lap swim and swim lessons. We’re also watching the forecast and will activate Operation Cooldown sprinklers in parks if the mercury hits 100.”

Albuquerque’s splash pads are open for the season and operating with the following hours (outside of holidays): 

• Cesar Chavez – free
  7505 Kathryn SE
  10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
  -Dynamic play zones for various ages
  -50-gallon dump bucket
  -Spray rings

• Civic Plaza – free
  7521 Carmel NE
  7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  -Several lighted geysers
  
  
• Manzano Mesa – $20 annual multi-gen membership required
  501 Elizabeth SE
  11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays
  -Several dump buckets
  -Spray rings
  -Deck jets
  
  
• North Domingo Baca – free
  7521 Carmel NE
  10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
  -Three rows of spray jets in that vary in heights
  
  
• Wells Park – Closed until the park construction is complete in 2025
  500 Mountain NW
  
  
• Westgate – free
  10001 De Vargas SW
  10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays
  -Several rows of jets

Currently, the Westgate splash pad is only accessible through the community center until the park is completed. The Alamosa splash pad is expected to be completed later this year.