City of Dubuque Leisure Services Programming Changes Today, Thursday, June 29

Today, Thursday, June 29, the fine particulate concentrations in Dubuque are being reported in the Unhealthy and Very Unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) categories due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. In response, Leisure Services is prepared to respond to the needs of its outdoor seasonal employees and residents and implement closures if necessary.

Both Flora and Sutton pools are currently open and operating as normally scheduled. However, if a pool closure is required due to staffing levels an email and/or text alert will be published through the City’s website and a notice will be posted at www.cityofdubuque.org/pools and on the Leisure Services social media channels. To receive email and/or text alerts, subscribe to News Releases at www.cityofdubuque.org/NotifyMe. Information regarding the current status of the pools is also available by calling the pools directly. Call Flora Pool at 563-589-4246 and Sutton Pool at 563-589-4247.

In addition, due to staffing levels, the Playground Explorations drop-in childcare program is only being held at Flora Park and Murphy Park today, Thursday, June 29. There is no program at Allison-Henderson Park or Jackson Park. If due to staffing levels the Playground Explorations Programs is required to end early today, City staff will notify the participant’s parents and guardians directly via phone. For questions regarding the Playground Explorations Program, call 563-589-4386.

The Comiskey Park Ribbon-Cutting and Community Celebration will be held as scheduled this evening from 5:30 – 8 p.m. The City will have a limited supply of N95 masks at the event. People sensitive to air pollution may consider shortening the amount of time they spend outdoors at the celebration.

At these elevated AQI levels, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens may take the following steps to reduce exposure:

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities
• Keep outdoor activities short
• Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them

The general population may take the following steps to reduce exposure:

• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running)
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors
• Plan to be outdoors when particle levels are forecast to be lower

Real-time air quality maps and information about the air quality index can be found at airnow.gov.