Gastonia, NC (July 23, 2025) At the direction of its City Council, the City of Gastonia has established new operating guidelines for the temporary cooling station located at 107 South Broad Street to help residents stay cool during periods of extreme heat.
Effective immediately, the City will use temperature forecasts from the National Weather Service to determine daily operations for the cooling station. The decision for each day's setup will be made at 10:00 a.m., 48 hours in advance, to allow time to coordinate staff and logistics.
Cooling Station Operations:
- Forecasted Highs of 90–94 Degrees: Cooling station will operate outdoors on the property.
- Forecasted Highs of 95 Degrees or Above: Cooling station will operate indoors within the facility.
- Daily Hours of Operation (indoor or outdoor): 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The City also encourages residents to utilize the City’s public community centers and county libraries as additional options to escape the heat.
These operational guidelines will remain in effect through August 6, 2025. City Council plans to revisit and discuss the status of the cooling station during its August 5 meeting.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department will coordinate staff when the cooling station is located indoors. They will also be responsible for opening and closing the gate and setting up the station when it is located outdoors.
Cooling Station Rules:
To ensure a safe and respectful environment for all, the following rules will be enforced at the cooling station:
- Shirts, shoes, and appropriate clothing must be worn at all times
- No food allowed inside the cooling station
- No lying down or sleeping on the premises
- No weapons or firearms allowed
- No smoking, vaping, or open tobacco products
- No alcohol permitted
- No illegal drugs or substances
- No marijuana products or paraphernalia
- No profanity
- No showers or bathing
- No inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to:
- Harassment
- Violence
- Aggression
- Destruction of property
- No loitering or gathering outside of designated cooling areas
- No trespassing after hours
Residents are asked to respect the rules and staff to help maintain a welcoming and secure space for everyone during high-heat days.
For more information about resources that are available, see the City’s Community Resource Guide.