City of Cleveland extends hours at rec centers as power outages continue

CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland announced it’s extending hours at four recreation centers Friday afternoon.

Starting at 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., the following centers will be open:

• Collinwood 16300 Lake Shore Blvd. – WiFi, no air conditioning 
• Zelma George 3155 MLK Jr Blvd. – WiFi, air conditioning 
• Cudell 1910 West Blvd. – WiFi, partial air conditioning 
• Michael Zone 6301 Lorain Ave. – WiFi, air conditioning 

The city noted outlets for charging devices at the centers are limited. Other options for charging, cooling and WiFi include:

• J Glen Smith Health Center at 11100 St. Clair Ave.
• McCafferty Health Center at 4242 Lorain Ave.
• Cleveland Public Library (CPL) branches
• Cuyahoga County Public Library branches
• Cleveland Liberation Center at 9801 Denison Ave.

The city asked residents to check hours and availability for library branches, however, all CPL branches are closed Friday.

Additionally, the city gave these “numbers to know” as the city continues to clean up from Tuesday’s storms:

• If residents are experiencing a medical emergency, life-threatening situation, or encounter a downed power line, call 911
• Residents with non-emergency questions or concerns should call 311
• Call the United Way Help Center at 211 for resource information for food, clothing, housing, health care and more

Cleveland said it’s embracing an all-hands-on-deck approach to the storm response, calling it “Operation Storm Recovery CLE.”

“I want to assure Clevelanders that our emergency teams are working around the clock to restore service and clear debris,” said Mayor Justin Bibb in a statement. “We understand the challenges that come from being without power and are working closely with utility companies to expedite restoration. Due to the extent of the damage, this will take some time. As the recovery continues, we are asking residents to prioritize safety and look out for each other.” 

For more information, the city is offering a Operation Storm Recovery CLE Resources At-a-Glance Guide. The guide will also be posted at areas around the city, including recreation centers.