Spatial access to cooling centers in the city of Boston

Introduction

In the past decade, the City of Boston has experienced a record number of hot days and has implemented measures to help residents stay cool, such as encouraging the use of air-conditioned cooling centers at community centers and public libraries. This study aimed to investigate spatial access to these cooling centers in relation to race, poverty, and heat intensity.

Methods

Geospatial analysis was used to estimate the proportion of the population within a 15-minute walk of a cooling center. Data on race, poverty, and urban heat exposure also were analyzed.

Results

The analysis showed that 77% of Boston's population is located within a 15-minute walk of a community center or library. There were no large disparities in access by race or poverty status and current cooling centers are located in areas with higher values on an urban heat island index. We estimate the City of Boston would need to construct a minimum of 19 new cooling centers to reach 95% of Boston's population, and 45 new centers to reach all residents.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the majority of Boston's population has good access to cooling centers, but there is still a need for additional centers in certain areas. Further research could explore the effectiveness of these cooling centers in reducing heat-related health impacts.