BOSTON (WHDH) – With the City of Boston in a heat emergency, city leaders on Wednesday were trying out some new ways to keep people cool.
City splash pads and pools were open for those looking to beat the heat, as were many area beaches. Misting tents were also set up at various locations throughout the city, including at City Hall Plaza.
The city opened several cooling centers due to the heat emergency, and kept them open Wednesday despite the holiday. The centers will be open again Thursday, according to the City of Boston.
“Given the heat wave, the city really wanted to make sure we could take extraordinary measures to keep all the cooling centers open, so I’m so grateful to all of our staff,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.
Some families spent the Juneteenth holiday together running through the fountain by the Christian Science Center.
“We’re all trying to find a way to cool off in this awful heat,” said Soleil Desai.
“It was unbearable and we were just worried getting the kids in the shade constantly,” said Deepa Soni.
One mother brought her 8-year-old son Anthony to play in the sprinklers at the Greenway.
“He’s loving it. We come here every summer to the sprinklers to cool off. He’s out there with all the other kid running around,” said Makayla Alioto. “I found the shade today, so I’m loving it.”
At a Juneteenth celebration and parade in Roxbury, volunteer Edee Alexander gave out cold water to those in attendance.
“I am providing the water because it is a very hot day for us today and we want to make sure everybody’s hydrated,” Alexander said. “Everyone is taking them and that’s a good thing.”
Attorney General Andrea Campbell spoke at the celebration and reminded everyone to stay hydrated.
“Happy Juneteenth, celebrate, stay hydrated, put some electrolytes in your water,” Campbell said.
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