City officials are encouraging Iowa City residents to take advantage of local public recreation centers as a means of beating the heat.

Because of the week’s high temperatures and high humidity, the City Manager’s Office released a statement reminding citizens to take advantage of the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center and the Scanlon Gymnasium/Mercer Park Aquatic Center to cool off in the air conditioning.

The Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St., is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Scanlon/Mercer, 2701 Bradford Drive, is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

— by Katie Heine