Gastonia opens inside of cooling station after temperatures reach 95 degrees

GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Gastonia neighbors are taking advantage of the city’s main cooling station. Three misting fans, chairs, two tents and a cooler sit outside of the old and unused Salvation Army on 107 South Broad Street.

But now, as temperatures reach over 100 degrees in the next few days, the inside is open.

“We wanted to keep the outdoor station set up as well, even when the indoor station is operating, because there are folks that maybe have pets and pets are not allowed inside the building. So at least they still have some relief that they can get from the heat,” said Gastonia’s communications manager, Dandria Bradley.

This cooling center is a result of a 4-2 vote from leaders during a July council meeting regarding the station’s operation.

The outside station would be open between 90 and 94 degrees, then the inside would open when temperatures hit 95 — like this weekend.

“I’m glad we’re able to offer this opportunity to help those in the community who have no other place to go and get cooled off,” said District 5 councilmember Jennifer Stepp. 

Inside, people in need can grab a snack, water, and be in an air-conditioned area. Volunteers from several resource organizations are there to monitor the building.

“So since we’ve had the indoor cooling station open since early July, there have been probably close to 150 people to take advantage of it. But those are also repeat folks who will come, you know, whenever it’s open, they’ll come in, get out of the elements for a little bit,” Bradley said. 

Toney Stubbs is helping man the station this weekend. He’s happy it’s open, but he believes the city should open the inside below 95 degrees.

“Volunteering and seeing people under the trees out there and waiting until the temperature gets 95 degrees is kind of insulting when the humidity, when the heat index is higher than the temperature out here, and you have to wait for a five-degree difference, it can impact someone,” Stubbs said. 

Mayor Richard Franks and Councilwoman Stepp joined a few neighbors getting relief Saturday afternoon. They both agree that the station is only part of a bigger solution that the city needs to fix.

“We as a body can continue to offer this relief and continue to work on affordable housing, which we want to move from this to getting people housed,” Stepp said.

“I explained to one of my council members today, I’m tired of talking, it’s time for action,” Franks said. 

107 South Broad Street isn’t the city’s only place where neighbors can cool off. Bradly says leaders understand that getting there may not be convenient for everyone.

“We encourage those folks to visit our community centers because our rec centers are open on weekends. The public libraries that are located within the city of Gastonia are open to the public. Anyone who lives in the area can go there to grab a book, enjoy the air conditioning. That’s also a good place to seek refuge for anyone who needs it,” Bradley said. 

Leaders plan to revisit the cooling stations topic at the beginning of August.