In response to the Extreme Heat Warning issued for today and tomorrow, Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn asked the Reston Community Center Lake Anne to open as a cooling center tomorrow, Saturday, July 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This action expands the cooling centers available across Fairfax County on July 4, along with RECenters and the Jim Scott Community Center. Other county facilities that normally act as cooling centers, such as libraries, will be closed due to the holiday.
The Lake Anne location normally would have been closed for the Independence Day holiday, but its doors will now be open to serve Lake Anne residents who don’t have air conditioning, as well as anyone else looking to beat the heat.
This weekend Reston Community Center’s two locations will be available for those looking to escape the heat.
Reston Weekend Cooling Center Hours:
Visit Reston Community Center locations at Lake Anne or Hunters Woods to cool off and access relief supplies:
- Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day): Lake Anne from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Hunters Woods from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, July 5: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
RCC Lake Anne is open with extended hours on Saturday, July 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. due to extreme heat. #reston
— Reston Community Center (@RestonRCC) July 3, 2026
Countywide Cooling Centers Open During the Independence Day Holiday
Fairfax County activated its heat plan through Saturday, July 4, and the county opened a 24-hour cooling center at the Jim Scott Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax). It will remain continuously open until 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 5. Residents needing transportation to or from this 24-hour site can call 703-865-0520.
At this center, residents may also get complimentary bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and body wipes as part of the cooling center’s operations.
The Fairfax County Park Authority’s RECenters also will be open on July 4. Every RECenter will be open from 7 a.m to 4 p.m. except for George Washington which will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston, alongside other adult shelters in the county, has activated day and night overflow capacity to accommodate anyone experiencing homelessness or unsheltered conditions.
Dangerous Heat Forecast July 4
The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning that runs through 9 p.m. on Saturday. They forecast dangerously hot conditions with the heat index expected to reach 110 to 115.
