While various cities throughout Kern County continue to experience triple-digit temperatures, it becomes increasingly important for individuals to remain cool and safe during the extreme heat.
Heat poses a substantial health risk, especially for vulnerable populations including young children, the elderly, those with chronic diseases or disabilities, and pregnant women. People can suffer from heat-related illnesses when their bodies are unable to cool themselves properly. These heat-related illnesses can include cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death.
Warning signs of heat-related illnesses may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, and nausea. Vomiting, paleness, fatigue, and dizziness can also be indicators of heat-related illness.
Kern County has various resources throughout its cities that individuals can take advantage of in order to protect themselves during extreme heat, including cooling centers, spray parks, and public pools.
Cooling Centers open in the San Joaquin and Kern River Valleys when the temperatures are forecast to be 105 degrees or higher, in the desert areas when the temperatures are forecast to be 108 degrees or higher, and in Frazier Park when temperatures are forecast to be 93 degrees or higher. The centers are open from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The status of Cooling Centers operated by the Kern County Parks Division, in cooperation with the Department of Aging and Adult Services, other Kern County agencies and/or districts, and PG&E for Friday, July 21, 2023, is:
- Arvin – Arvin Community Center, 800 Walnut Drive – OPEN
- Bakersfield – East Bakersfield Veterans Building, 2101 Ridge Road – OPEN
- Lake Isabella – Kern River Valley Senior Center, 6405 Lake Isabella Boulevard – CLOSED
- Maricopa – Gusher Hall, 271 California Street – OPEN
- McFarland – McFarland Veterans Center, 103 W Sherwood Ave – CLOSED
- Shafter – Walker Senior Center, 505 Sunset Avenue – OPEN
- Taft – Taft Community Center- Activity Building, 500 Cascade Place – OPEN
- Frazier Park – Frazier Park Public Library- Community Room, 3732 Frazier Park Drive – OPEN
- California City – Strata Center, 10350 Heather Avenue – OPEN
- Rosamond – Hummel Community Building, 2500 20th Street – OPEN
The following cooling centers operate independently of the Parks Division’s program and will be open on days that are over 105 degrees at the locations and times listed below.
- Bakersfield locations
- The Mission at Kern County
- 816 E. 21st Street, Bakersfield
- Daily from 8 am – 11 am AND from 1 pm to 4:30 pm
- The Rasmussen Senior Center
- 115 E. Roberts Lane, Bakersfield
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closed weekends and holidays)
- The City of Delano (Open from June 1 to September 30)
- Eleventh Avenue Community Center
- 200 West 11th Avenue, Delano
- Monday – Thursday 3 pm – 7 pm
- Jefferson Center
- 436 Jefferson Avenue, Delano
- Monday- Friday 9 am- 1 pm
- The City of Ridgecrest (open June 1 to September 22)
- Kerr McGee Community Center
- 100 W. California Ave., Ridgecrest
- Monday – Friday 11 am – 8 pm
- Saturday 11 am – 5:30 pm
Additionally, Kern County is home to the following public swimming pools that can be utilized by the public:
- Greenacres Pool
- 2014 Calloway Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93312
- Tuesday – Thursday 2 pm – 4 pm
- Riverlakes Pool
- Opens July 31st
- 5101 Riverlakes Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93312
- McMurtrey Aquatic Center
- 1325 Q St Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
- MLK Park swimming pool
- 1000 S Owens Street, Bakersfield, CA 93307
- Tuesday – Friday 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
- Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Jefferson Park
- 801 Bernard Street, Bakersfield, CA, 93305
- Tuesday- Friday 1:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Silvercreek Park
- 7011 Harris Road, Bakersfield, CA 93313
- Tuesday – Friday 1 pm – 3:30 pm
- Saturday-Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm
- Bear Mountain Recreation Pools
- 0300 San Diego St, Lamont, CA 93241
- Arvin pool
- 685 So. Hill, Arvin Ca 93203
- Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays 1 pm – 5 pm
- Lamont pool
- 8704 Palm Ave Lamont, Ca. 93241
- Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays 1 pm – 5 pm
Kern Sol News spoke with Rosalva Gonzalez, Recreation Coordinator Offices for Bear Mountain Recreation, and was told that this is their last weekend open for this summer holiday season.
The following Kern County parks are the county’s sprays parks that individuals and families can utilize:
- Bakersfield
- Beale Park – 500 Oleander Ave.
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – 1000 S. Owens St.
- Greystone – 5709 Mountain Vista Drive
- Jastro – 2900 Truxtun Ave.
- Jefferson – 801 Bernard St.
- Mesa Marin – 10315 Highway 178
- Planz – 1601 Planz Road
- Saunders – 3300 Palm St.
- Siemon – 3300 Redlands Drive
- Wayside – 1200 Ming Ave.
- Madison Grove – 10115 Norris Road
- Riverview – 401 Willow Drive
- San Lauren – 4101 Mohawk St.
- Silver Oak – 15885 Opus One Drive
- Emerald Cove – 4303 Patton Way
- North Meadows – 3300 Mccray St.
- Polo Community – 11801 Noriega Road
- Sears – 444 Norris Road
- Delano
- Cesar Chavez – 901 Ellington St.