West Michigan tries to beat the heat with splash pads, cooling centers

WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) — People in West Michigan are trying to stay cool as heat and humidity this week are bringing dangerous conditions to the region.

With temperatures soaring in West Michigan, people are bracing for another heat wave.

“When it’s summer humid and stuff, I just step outside and I just get dreadful and just exhausted right away, it feels like,” said Kyle Hammerlind, a Grand Rapids resident.

Monday, Hammerlind was one of many visitors at Millennium Park in Kent County as people tried their best to beat the heat at the splash pad and beach.

“Stay hydrated, at least keep a couple things of water in the car,” said Alexander ​Smith, a Grand Rapids resident who visited Millennium Park.

“Going somewhere where you’re active with your friends, family, whoever really, just doing something like going to the beach, the waterpark,” Hammerlind said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , heat-related deaths are on the rise. Just over 1,600 occurred in 2021 and in 2023, that number rose to more than 2,300.

Mel Trotter Ministries is among the organizations that open a cooling center for the community during the summer from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

“You and I don’t want to sit out in the sun all day long, right?” said Adrienne Goodstal, president of Mel Trotter Ministries.

Goodstal said they usually see more people using the center during extreme conditions.

“Usually in the afternoon is when we’ll see an increase, most people will leave out during the morning and maybe go have lunch at God’s Kitchen and then come up here during the afternoon,” Goodstal said.

Mel Trotter Ministries also has outreach workers, who go out five days a week, to meet individuals where they are and provide resources they may need.

“Connecting with people who are unsheltered, bringing water, bringing cooling wraps,” Goodstal said.

If workers see someone who may need medical attention, the organization will work closely with first responders.

“For a lot of folks, they might not recognize when they’re going into heat stroke or just having overheating, if you will. Because a lot of folks do stay outside and so it’s important for us to be able to make sure that they know that there’s a resource available,” Goodstal said.

Degage Ministries said it is also open to the community as a cooling center.

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