This week’s weather has Portage County scrambling to beat the heat. Some folks are lucky enough to have air conditioning, while others are visiting grocery stores and movie theaters.
Here are a few other options:
Swim sites
Consider a visit to the beach at West Branch State Park. Admission is free. From Ravenna, take Route 5 east, turn on Wayland Road and follow signs for the beach. From southern Portage County, take Alliance Road or Route 225 north to Cable Line Road, turn on Wayland and follow signs for the beach. There are no lifeguards.
Pets are not permitted on West Branch’s swimming beach, but the park also offers a dog park with a pond. Animals must be monitored at all times. The dog park is located on Rock Spring Road.
Pups are also welcome at Roundup Lake, 3392 Route 82, Mantua. Day passes for the resort’s lake and pool run $15 on weekdays, though children under 3 are free. The day passes do not include the use of the pool on weekends. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Swimming is also on tap at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. The beach is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Day passes cost $6 for children aged 4-14 and $15 for children aged 15+. NLQP is located at 12001 Nelson Ledge Rd., Garrettsville. Except for registered, tagged service dogs, pups are not permitted. Swimming is not permitted when the lifeguard is off-duty.
Splash Pads
Aurora Splash Pad is located at Kiwanis-Moore Park, 35 W. Pioneer Trail. The Splash Pad is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. No attendant is on duty, so parents are expected to supervise their children at all times. Food, drink, glass, animals, wheeled items and personal toys are not allowed on the pad. Children in diapers must wear swim diapers. Children may have water shoes on or have bare feet.
Libraries
During regular hours of operation, area libraries offer the perfect trifecta: cool off, enjoy a good read and maybe learn something. Portage County District Library has branches in Aurora, Garrettsville, Streetsboro, Brimfield, Randolph and Windham. There is also the Kent Free Library and Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna.
Cooling stations
Haven of Portage County, 2645 Route 59 in Ravenna, is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lunch and dinner is provided. All bags are inspected, and no weapons, drugs or paraphernalia, or alcohol is permitted.
Center of Hope, 1081 W. Main St. in Ravenna, is welcoming people from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hot meals are provided weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Guests can receive cold water and fresh fruit, and anyone is welcome.
Kent Social Services, 1066 S. Water St., is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hot meals are offered weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.