Neighbor-run news for Allston.

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Beat the heat: Find the nearest public cooling center to you

Joanna Lin

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7–11 minutes
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Find your nearest cooling center.

Cooling centers, spray decks, pools, libraries, and free-admission sites across Allston-Brighton and Boston. Tap “locate me” to sort every site by distance.
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Issued by the City of Boston: “For people experiencing homelessness: Boston Public Health Commission emergency shelters are air conditioned and open 24/7. When temperatures reach 90°F or above, amnesty is in place for guests with nonviolent restrictions — amnesty has been preemptively declared Wednesday, July 1 through Saturday, July 4. Men can access shelter at 112 Southampton Street; women at the Woods Mullen Shelter, 794 Massachusetts Ave.”

Coordinates are approximate, geocoded from listed street addresses. Always call ahead to confirm a site is open before traveling — hours can change during extreme heat events. This tool does not share your location with anyone; distance is calculated entirely in your browser.

By Joanna Lin with assistance from Claude AI.

Update: July 4, 2026

The city ended its heat advisory on July 3. The Oak Square YMCA is no longer a public cooling center, but does continue to provide programming to the public. Free teen memberships are available from June 22 to August 30. In addition, financial assistance is available for those who are not teens.

The Museum of Science, Institute of Contemporary Art, and Edward M. Kennedy Institute no longer provide free admission.

Correction: July 2, 2026

Several of the addresses listed were updated for accuracy.

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