photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence's first splash pad opened on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at Burroughs Creek park, 900 E. 15th St. The splash pad includes eight water features.

Lawrence – along with other cities in the area – is currently experiencing a multi-day, late-summer heat wave with the heat index reaching 105 degrees Fahrenheit most days.

Wednesday will bring sunny and hot weather conditions, with the high near 97 degrees Fahrenheit and the low around 78, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka. On Thursday, conditions will be similar with a high close to 96 and a low around 77. Sunny conditions continue on Friday with a high of 96 and a low of 76.

There’s no sign of things cooling down over the weekend, as Saturday’s high is near 96 and low is around 75. Sunday will have a high of 95 and a low of 74. Labor Day – on Monday – will have a high of 93 and a low of 73.

With temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s in Lawrence this week – and similar conditions anticipated for next week, here are some places where people can go to cool down and escape the heat.

• The Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., is free to access and it is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free passes are available at the Community Building’s front desk.

• The Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., is free to use, and it is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Visit the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., to view many local exhibitions for free. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• While the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center is closed for the season, the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive, is open year-round. On weekdays, lap swimming is available 6:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Warm water workouts (16+) are available 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, lap swimming is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A full list of operating hours is listed at https://lawrenceks.gov/prc/aquatics/iac/.

• Two free city splash pads – Lyons Park Splash Pad, 700 Lyon St., and Burroughs Creek Splash Pad, 900 E. 15th St. – are open daily, operating from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A city spokesperson told the Journal-World that the splash pads will be open into the first week of October, and after that, it will be weather dependent.

• Lawrence Transit buses are fare-free and air-conditioned. People can board at any stop to ride and cool off. The routes and schedules can be viewed at https://lawrencetransit.org/.

• The city’s recreation facilities are open during normal business hours, and access is available with a recreation center membership, punch card or day pass.

People needing an overnight stay can go to the Lawrence Community Shelter, 3655 E. 25th St. Night-by-night guest check-in runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the south side of the building. Guests must exit by 8 a.m. Call the facility directly at 785-832-8864 or reach out to the city’s emergency helpline at 785-813-9483 to check current bed availability.

In addition, the Homeless Resource Center, 944 Kentucky St., is asking people to donate water bottles for distribution to people in need. The organization is also asking for five-gallon water coolers and paper cups to keep at locations servicing individuals.