LYNN — With temperatures creeping into the 90s Tuesday, Lynn residents took shelter from the oppressive, sweltering heat in cooling centers and splash pads across the city, while leaving King’s Beach surprisingly sparse.
Both the Lynn Auditorium and the Senior Center on Friend Street were left open for the public to come in, sit down, and take solace from the heat in an air conditioned room. Additionally, splash pads in Kiley Park, Neptune Boulevard Park, and Flax Pond Park were turned on for children to splash around and cool off.
Director of Elder Services Christopher Gomez said that even though only his regular senior citizens took advantage of the Senior Center’s Cool Down service, the program is open to everyone.
“We’re considered a heat island in Lynn. It’s really hot in the summer and a cooling place like this can be the big difference of someone getting through the day, or not,” Gomez said. “The people come in, we serve them food, serve lunch. We have water, we have refreshments as well. To be honest, today, we just had our regular seniors, but if anyone wants to come, they’re welcome to come.”
The City received a $30,000 grant from the COVID-safe Cooling Strategies Grant Program last month to implement systems to mitigate the impact of extreme heat. Gomez said that last year, he used his share of the grant to purchase and distribute fans to community members who needed them, and that there are still fans left over for those in need of a fan.
“With the cooling grant I got last year, I bought a whole bunch of fans. We gave them away, we’re still giving them away to anyone that’s in need, they can come in and get a fan,” Gomez said.
At the Kiley Park splash pad, children ran around the approximately 10-foot high water stream shooting out of the ground. Wendell Lemnah, who recently moved to Lynn from Florida, said that he took his 4-year-old son, also named Wendell, to the splash pad to play in the water and make friends.
“Being in a new place, you’ve got to learn everything. A friend of ours told us about this so we looked it up, came here, and it was something for kids his age. They get to play in the water, make some friends. It’s good for them and it keeps them cool, they love it,” Lemnah said.
The younger Wendell said that he was having a lot of fun at the splash park and that his favorite part was “playing and getting wet.”
Lynn resident Jessica Coocen said that she brought her 4-year-old daughter, Eliana, to the splash pad because it was a safer and more affordable alternative to a beach day.
“It’s good because I live right down the street, it’s free, and we don’t have to pay $20 for parking down at the beach just for them to get burned. There’s shade, and it’s fun. They can play with their friends, it’s just a good thing for them to do. I wish there were more things like this around Lynn for them,” Coocen said.
In addition to the prevalence of shade and cool water at splash pads, Lynn Department of Public Works Associate Commissioner Lisa Nerich said that splash pads can be a safer alternative to the beach on hot days, as they eliminate the risk of drowning in childrens’ water play.
“It eliminates the need for lifeguards, or supervision from either parents, and it’s just a cooling station for these kids to enjoy, a relaxing way for the kids to have fun on a hot, steamy day,” Nerich said.
Nerich also said that in the next few weeks a new splash pad at Barry Park will open.
Community Development Facilities Manager Eda Matchak said that the splash pads in Lynn have been well-received by the community, and that she looks forward to building more.
“The splash pads in the city have been a great success. They’re accessible, and they’re far easier and safer than having swimming pools. We look forward to continuing to build them for the city,” Matchak said.
Amy Allessi and Zach Raup, of Wallingford, CT, brought foldable chairs to King’s Beach Tuesday afternoon and plopped down by the water’s edge — setting up a “micro vacation” for themselves.
NAHANT — At Nahant Beach, Patrice, a Swampscott resident who declined to provide her last name, brought her grandson to the beach after picking him up from camp due to the extreme heat.
“Because it was so hot we are more than willing to cool off in the ocean,” she said.
They chose Nahant Beach because it was one of the “most magnificent” beaches in the area, Patrice said.
“My husband walks here every day. It’s a gift to everybody who lives in this area,” she said.
Shylah Curtis and Krista Tamburello of Saugus also sought to escape the heat at Nahant Beach, a place they usually visit once a week.
Fernanda Suza, of Everett, said she came to Nahant Beach for the second time because of the heat too, as did Carlos Santos who was relaxing on the shore with his family trying “to take advantage of the heat.”
“It’s obvious it’s very hot today,” said Santos.
Nicole Labrecque, of Needham, who was reading in her lawn chair at the beach, said that she came “just to get away from the heat,” and that she only comes here a few times a year, as did Gabe Monzo, of Melrose, who made the trip to Nahant with his girlfriend.
“It’s a clear day,” said Monzo.
SWAMPSCOTT — Preston Beach in Swampscott attracted as diverse an audience as the larger Nahant Beach, and many said they were trying to escape the heat here too and also to capture a few of the warmer days of the year on the North Shore.
“We are here, because we like the heat, and the water is a little cold. It’s kind of one time of the year when it gets this hot here, and living on the water is a perk,” said Abby Loop of Salem, who was enjoying the beach and the conversation with her friend Tricia Piorkowski.
Martine Egan of Marblehead was reading on the beach and she said that she played tennis in the morning, and that she was now enjoying the breeze. Rina Carcoba of Mexico said she came to spend her vacation with her brother who lived nearby.
Melissa O’Sullivan said that she came for a “lovely breeze that keeps us cool.”
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected].
Oksana Kotkina can be reached at [email protected].
