As a haze of wildfire smoke took over the skyline, Cleveland closed outdoor pools and extended hours at recreation centers on Thursday and Friday because of poor air quality.
The recreation centers are both cooling centers and “a place to seek relief from potentially dangerous environmental conditions,” a city spokesperson said in a press release.
Playground programs and youth outdoor sports were also cancelled. Indoor pools at recreation centers will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Check if your local indoor pool is open using the city’s pool status tool, which updates daily at noon.
Learn more about the wildfires in Canada and Minnesota sending smoke into U.S. cities and find tips here for staying safe when the air is unhealthy.
Cleveland Recreation centers open until 7:30 p.m.
The following rec centers will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. through Friday, July 17.
Clark Recreation Center, 5706 Clark Ave.
- Features: Game room, gym, indoor pool
Cory Recreation Center, 10510 Drexel Ave.
- Features: Weight room, racquetball, dance studio, gym, indoor track, indoor pool
Cudell Recreation Center, 1910 West Blvd.
- Features: Weight room, sauna, game room, gym, indoor pool
Earle B. Turner Recreation Center, 11300 Miles Ave.
- Features: Game room, gym, indoor pool

Estabrook Recreation Center, 4125 Fulton Rd.
- Features: Sauna, game room, gym, indoor pool. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Fairfax Recreation Center, 2335 East 82nd St.
- Features: Sauna, game room, gym, indoor pool
Glenville Recreation Center, 680 E. 113th St.
- Features: Sauna, gym, indoor pool. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Hamilton Recreation Center, 13200 Kinsman Ave.
- Features: Weight room, indoor pool
Lonnie Burten Recreation Center, 2511 East 46th St.
- Features: Weight room, sauna, game room, gym, indoor pool. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Sterling Recreation Center, 1380 East 32nd St.
- Features: Weight room, sauna, gym, indoor pool

Stella Walsh Recreation Center, 7345 Broadway Ave.
- Features: Weight room, sauna, racquetball, game room, indoor pool
Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center, 8611 Hough Ave.
- Features: Weight room, sauna, game room, gym, indoor pool
Woodland Recreation Center, 9206 Woodland Ave.
- Features: Weight room, game room, gym, indoor track, indoor pool
Cleveland Recreation centers open until 10 p.m.
The following rec centers will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Friday, July 17:
Collinwood Recreation Center: 16300 Lakeshore Blvd., 216-420-8323
- Features: Water slide, weight room, fitness room, game room, computer room, art room, gym, meeting room, indoor track, indoor pool, aqua playground. Click here for the programming schedule.
Edward J. Kovacic Recreation Center: 6250 St. Clair Ave., 216-664-4140
Features: Game room, gym, meeting room, indoor pool. Click here for the programming schedule. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Frederick Douglass Recreation Center: 15401 Miles Ave., 216-664-6882
- Features: Gym, indoor pool, indoor children’s water play area, aerobics room, multi-purpose room, arts and crafts room, computer/instruction room, tots room, playground, outdoor children’s splash pad, tennis courts, baseball fields. Click here for the programming schedule. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Gunning Recreation Center: 16700 Puritas Ave., 216-420-7900
- Features: Senior center, weight room, sauna, gym, meeting room, indoor track. Click here for the programming schedule.
Michael Zone Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Ave., 216-664-3373
- Features: Indoor pool, gym, weight room, sauna and game room. Click here for the programming schedule. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Zelma George Recreation Center: 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 216-420-8800
- Features: Weight room, roller skating, gym, kitchen, indoor track. Click here for the programming schedule. 🥣 Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Want to check local air quality? Find near-real time air quality conditions on Cleveland’s Open Data Portal as part of the CLEANinCLE project. The information is pulled from sensors at locations across the city that were recommended by residents like this Cleveland dad.
Cleveland rec centers serving breakfast and lunch
Breakfast is available from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at Estabrook, Frederick Douglass, Edward J. Kovacic, Glenville, Lonnie Burton, Michael Zone, Zelma George (addresses above), as well as:
- Halloran: 3550 W. 117th St., 216-664-4187
All recreation centers will serve lunch to youth 18 and under between noon to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call for exact serving times.
Community Reporter Najee Hall contributed to this story.

