Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty have several public options to warm up as arctic cold descends upon eastern Iowa.
The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities is forecasting wind chills as low as 35 degrees below zero in the Iowa City area overnight Thursday, Jan. 22, into Friday, Jan. 23. The chilly conditions will stick around on Saturday, with wind chills descending as low as 30 degrees below zero.
Shelter House is the area’s most expansive offering, providing an overnight winter emergency shelter to help people experiencing homelessness escape the ice-cold temperatures.
The winter shelter is open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. each evening and provides a place to eat, sleep and stay warm. The space provides 40 temporary beds and space for up to 100 people on a first-come, first-serve basis, along with the organization’s year-round emergency shelter.
The winter emergency shelter is at 340 Southgate Avenue, next to the GuideLink Center.
The space has showers and a basic kitchen space as well.
Shelter House is typically in need of additional resources. Interested donors can pledge money or purchase items from the organization’s website or an Amazon wishlist posted to social media.
Where to find warm spaces in Iowa City
Iowa City is encouraging residents to stay warm by popping into any of its public spaces during regular hours, the city said in a release.
The Mercer Park Aquatic Center at 2701 Bradford Drive opens at 6:15 a.m., Monday through Saturday, and opens at 11 a.m., on Sundays. The building is open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on weekends.
The Robert A. Lee Recreation Center at 220 S. Gilbert Street is also open from 6:15 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 6:15 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturdays. The facility is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Sundays.
The Iowa City Senior Center is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The Iowa City Public Library is also open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Sundays.
Spots to warm up in Coralville and North Liberty
Coralville city staff are encouraging residents to stop by several central locations to warm up. The Coralville Recreation Center is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Sundays.
Coralville’s Public Library at 1401 5th Street is also open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., on Sundays. From Monday to Thursday, the building is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In North Liberty, the city recommends using the Community Center to stay warm, which is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Visit these Iowa City-area spaces to stay warm amid frigid temps
Reporting by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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