Triple-digit temperatures have arrived in Albuquerque, prompting the city government to launch Operation Cool Down 2026. The initiative provides residents with access to 22 community centers, pools, splash pads, and shelters.
Residents can use air-conditioned public buildings, including libraries, senior centers and community centers, as temperatures are expected to climb this week amid concerns about a potential Super El Niño.
Mayor Tim Keller said extreme heat poses a serious public safety threat. “Extreme heat is a serious public safety issue, and we are treating it that way,” Keller said. “Our job is to make sure people know where to go, how to get help, and that no one is left outside without options.”
Where to go
Residents can seek relief at the city’s 22 community centers, which offer game rooms, gyms, workout areas, and quiet rooms. Keller said residents can enroll online for a free Play Pass to access the facilities.
Public pools and splash pads are open throughout the summer. Admission ranges from $1 for toddlers to $3 for adults at locations across the city.
Utilizing Park Sprinklers
As part of Operation Cooldown 2026, the Parks & Recreation Department (PRD) is reactivating sprinklers at select neighborhood parks. Beginning Wednesday, June 17, sprinklers will operate at selected parks from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on days when temperatures are forecast to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, except Sundays.
The first group of participating parks includes Academy Hills Park (9709 Layton Ave. NE), Seville Park (6200 Burgos Ave. NW), Jack and Jill Park (433 Arizona St. SE), Sierra Sunset Park (10600 Big Springs Rd. SW), and Villella Park (6910 Cherokee Rd. NE)
Shelter For Those On The Street
City officials said the Gateway System provides round-the-clock shelter and support services for people experiencing homelessness, including indoor space, meals, connections to treatment, and housing navigation.
Matthews-Trigg, program manager for mobile homelessness response at the New Mexico Department of Health, said not everyone has access to resources that help them stay cool. “While some of us have the resources to get cool, to stay cool, not everybody has that,” Matthews-Trigg said.
He and Kelly Watson, a harm reduction communications specialist, helped launch the department’s heat safety initiative to raise awareness about the dangers extreme temperatures pose to people experiencing homelessness. “It’s all about reducing harm wherever we can, helping people where they are and meeting them where they are,” Watson said.
One concern, Watson said, is distinguishing between heat stroke and an overdose because symptoms such as slurred speech, seizures, and loss of consciousness can overlap. “You can also assess for other things that occur with an overdose, like their color kind of going with heat stroke; they might be more like red and hot to the touch, versus an overdose, where they’re going to be turning more blue, gray,” she said.
Watson said naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, can be administered if the cause is unclear because it will not harm someone who is not experiencing an overdose.
The state’s health department is also distributing heat kits containing cooling towels, sunscreen, insect repellent, and other supplies through community partners and mobile outreach teams.
Others Are Helping Out
Pastor Joanne Landry of Interfaith Bible Center said she has witnessed how substance use can contribute to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. “I don’t think they know really when to hydrate, and I think that’s what happens too, is with the addiction and everything going on, and they just go, go, go,” Landry said.
Landry said the church provides water, sunscreen, and cooling towels to dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of people experiencing homelessness and continues to accept donations.
She said pets are also vulnerable to extreme heat. “They just walk on the hot, hot sidewalks and pavement. So we’re thinking of getting baby booties,” Landry said.
Tips and Recommendations For Residents
Health officials urged residents to watch for signs of heat exhaustion, including heavy sweating, muscle cramps, clammy skin, and a rapid, weak pulse. Symptoms of heat stroke include a body temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, nausea, dizziness, and a rapid, strong pulse.
Officials also advised residents to drink plenty of water and limit outdoor activities, particularly during the hottest part of the afternoon.