Harris County Precinct 4 opens splash pads earlier amid dangerous heat
Precinct 4 opened splash pads at 8 a.m. on July 3, giving families free cooling at five parks as heat index values neared 107 degrees.
Harris County Precinct 4 opened its splash pads two hours earlier on July 3, giving families a free place to cool off as dangerous heat settled over Houston and the surrounding suburbs. The water features will run daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the rest of the summer season, a schedule meant to help parents avoid the hottest part of the day.
The splash pads are at McClendon Park on Summit Valley Drive, Nottingham Park on Kimberley Lane, Jaycee Park on Seamist Drive, Zube Park on Roberts Road in Hockley, and Monsignor Bill Pickard Park on Roos Road. For families in western and northern parts of Harris County, the earlier opening offers a nearby option for children and caregivers who need relief without paying for admission or staying trapped in hot backyards.
The National Weather Service warned that dangerously hot conditions were likely through the Fourth of July weekend. Widespread heat index values of about 105 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit were expected across the Houston area, with locally higher readings above 108 degrees possible.
Precinct 4, led by Commissioner Lesley Briones, is rolling out a wider summer response aimed at residents who are most exposed to heat and least able to pay for ways to beat it. The precinct's 2026 Cool 4 the Summer campaign will provide more than 250 free portable air-conditioning units to vulnerable residents, including seniors, low-income households, veterans and people with disabilities. That distribution more than doubles last year's total.
Since 2023, the precinct has responded to hurricanes, a derecho and tornadoes by distributing resources and supplies to thousands of residents and opening community centers as places of refuge.
Summer heat can cause dehydration quickly, and the Houston Health Department advises residents to use sunscreen and other basic heat-safety measures.
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