Mendenhall: Salt Lake County “Cool-Zones” Aren’t Inclusive
A couple rests under the shade with their dogs at the Liberty Park, Salt Lake City, Utah on June 17, 2022. (Photo by Amen Koutowogbe | The Daily Utah Chronicle)
June 27, 2022
Salt Lake County recently announced their implementation of “cool zones,” which provide citizens an escape from the blistering summer heat. Cool zones offer air-conditioning and fresh, cold water, plus the chance to learn about summer activities county-wide.
However, upon further investigation, these cool zones are not inclusive and marketed solely for elderly people and disabled individuals. While I applaud the emphasis on these two groups, the cool zones don’t encompass other groups in need of the same resources throughout the summer months. Excluded groups include children out of school for the summer, teenagers in need of volunteer experience and adults who work in the heat.
Although cool zones are a good idea, they are exclusive and should be redesigned to better serve the entire community.
Who Benefits Now
In Salt Lake County, adults 65 and older make up about 11.5% of the population, with disabled individuals making up 23%. People in the two groups can already access care facilities specifically catering to their needs, including senior centers and residential care programs. These care facilities are equipped with the same amenities provided at cool zone locations. But not everyone in the community can access these centers and programs.
Children Out of School
The 2020 Census estimated that 26.6% of Salt Lake County households contained children under the age of 18. During the summer months, these children are not in school, so their parents and caregivers may not be around to entertain or provide them with activities. Most parents can’t take summers off to spend time with their children, making plans for finding summer childcare difficult.
I know my parents struggled with not knowing where my siblings and I were or what we were doing to entertain ourselves during summer. However, knowing that these children have a safe place to go would likely put thousands of parents’ minds at ease. Salt Lake County should offer children access to cold water, air conditioning, free activities and resources through the cool zone program.
Who to Include
Aside from children, there are many other groups that Salt Lake County could include to make cool zones more inclusive. These include workers who are out in the sun all day and college students traveling between classes. If they had access to cool zone amenities, it may reduce the likelihood of dehydration or heat stroke. Cool zones could offer multiple groups relief from heat-related health conditions and possibly benefit by including other demographic groups.
Limits Through Location
Salt Lake County libraries host reading challenges every summer. I’ve participated in this challenge since the first grade, but my family only knew of it because we lived down the street from a library. Libraries also provide several arts and crafts activities for various age groups. This last week, kits were handed out to children age nine and younger to make Father’s Day crafts. Some families and individuals may not know about these activities, which is why they are promoted at county-sponsored events like cool zones. However, if cool zones exclude people under a certain age or in general, individuals cannot educate themselves about these great resources and activities.
Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to benefiting the public, volunteers seeking hours or experience could build their resumes and offer assistance in cool zone programs throughout the summer. Creating a more inclusive program could provide more opportunities for people to gain volunteer hours. Utah boasts the No. 1 spot in self-reported volunteer efforts, falling at a 51% volunteer rate. Increasing volunteer opportunities through the cool zone initiative would only better serve our community members. Salt Lake County already has the foundation for a great program. We just need to take the next step and open the program to all ages.
Ensuring that our communities foster inclusive spaces rather than divisive ones is key in feeling a sense of belonging and unity. But right now, Salt Lake County cool zones are exclusive. We must work on making programs and initiatives more inclusive, and in doing so, we can help spread awareness about cool zones.
Nate • Jul 1, 2022 at 2:43 pm
This is the stupidest opinion piece I’ve ever read. Nothing prevents anyone from any age (or other group) from taking advantage of one of the public buildings identified as a “cool zone.”
This reads like the author was given an assignment to come up with an opinion about something–anything–and then create imaginary faults with that thing to generate controversy and therefore readership. It’s obvious she didn’t even read in full the links she included.
I’m not surprised that the author doesn’t have any response from Salt Lake County in her piece; there’s nothing of substance to say in response to, “I’m complaining about a problem that doesn’t actually exist.”
The editors should be as ashamed as the author for allowing this lazy piece to masquerade as journalism.
Gus • Jun 29, 2022 at 11:24 am
This article is RIDICULOUS. Libraries are intrinsically inclusive, have hundreds of programs and services for children, teens and adults including Kids Café (a meal program for kids), so this opinion piece is terribly UNinformed. A simple perusal of the county library website would have provided you this information.
https://www.slcolibrary.org/
The cool zone program is not new (launched in 2014), though geared to older adults it is a FREE program, and is inclusive of ANY person that needs to beat the heat. If you would have looked at their website it clearly states this. Instead of trashing a great program that helps thousands of people each year, perhaps a simple Google search could have been performed before trashing a completely altruistic program. Be better.
https://slco.org/aging-adult-services/cool-zone
“Salt Lake County has a variety of programming and activities available to people of all ages at Libraries and Recreation Centers. These facilities may require fees to participate in services and programs.
Call (385) 468-3200 for more information or for list of Cool Zone locations near you.”
Mary • Jun 28, 2022 at 8:45 am
Oh come on. Ask why this demographic is being cared for. Natural disasters and extreme weather hit these groups the hardest. In Houston where I spend time, these are the groups killed in hurricanes and flooding. They need extra assistance. Teenagers and kids are mobile and there are plenty of places for them, for example, the public libraries excellent program for teens. We went once and won a cultural pass to do all kinds of things in Utah for free. There are parks and events with free days easy for mobile people to access. Why don’t you call up the program and ask them what their thinking was? There are opinion pieces and there are uninformed opinion pieces, this is the latter.