Stay Cool Bloomington

This comprehensive program aims to promote community resilience to heat and ensure the well-being of our residents during hot weather.

Pool Fee Waiver Program

To ensure youth in the community have access to the city's outdoor pools, pool fee waivers are available for youth under the age of 17 years who live within Bloomington city limits. Up to two designated adult supervisors at least 18 years old may enter the pool for free with qualifying youth.

Applicants for pool admission fee waivers must provide proof of residency within city limits, as well as proof that they meet the requirements for free and reduced school meals (or equivalent income eligibility guidelines). Fee waiver applications are available online and from the Parks and Recreation main office. 

The Aquatics Facility/Program Manager maintains current lists of pool fee waiver recipients at each pool and records fee waiver recipient visits. 

Air Conditioner Distribution Program

Low-income residents who live within the city limits and have a medical condition that increases their risk of a heat-related illness can apply to receive one free window air conditioner and have it installed free of charge. 

The purpose of the AC Distribution Program is to prevent vulnerable populations from heat-related illnesses. Extreme heat kills more people in the United States than all other weather-related events, such as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Extreme heat can be dangerous for anyone, but it can be especially dangerous for low-income residents with chronic medical conditions. High daytime and nighttime temperatures can cause stress on the human body, which exacerbates health conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and renal disease. In addition, some medications (such as some antidepressants, diuretics, and beta-blockers) and chemotherapy treatments taken for a chronic illnesses may increase an individual’s sensitivity to heat by interfering with the body’s ability to regulate temperature, fluids, or electrolytes. No medical information or prescription from a doctor is required to participate in this program. 

The AC window unit is intended to cool one room in the resident's home in order to provide a place to retreat from extreme heat. 

Grant applications will be accepted through the City's grant portal starting May 1, 2026, CiviForm: https://civiform.bloomington.in.gov/programs. 

The Economic and Sustainable Development (ESD) department will review the application, and if all the requirements are met, ESD will then notify the company that ESD has hired to complete the installations that an application has been approved. The company will then schedule the install with the grant applicant. AC window units will be provided to those with approved applications on a first-come, first-served basis while funding is available. 

Before applying, check if the address is located within city limits by visiting https://bloomington.in.gov/mybloomington/. Many Bloomington addresses are not located within city limits.

If you are a renter, ask your landlord to repair your existing AC unit before filling out an application for a free AC unit from the city.  If your landlord refuses to repair the existing AC unit, follow the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department's steps to submit a complaint listed on this website  https://bloomington.in.gov/housing/rental-complaints. 

Stay Cool Bloomington Cool Kits

ESD has created cool kits to help educate residents about the risk of extreme heat and provide information about cooling resources available to our residents. They consist of a water bottle, cooling towel, electrolyte packet, sunscreen packet, and our Stay Cool Bloomington Resource Guide. We are distributing them to nonprofits, summer camps, and individuals while supplies last. 

The resource guide provides information about local cooling resources, symptoms of a heat stroke and heat exhaustion, a list of vulnerable populations, and a map that depicts public water fountains, public swimming pools, splash pad, and cooling stations.