Photo taken at Rockaway Beach. Courtesy of Kitty Katz.

Photo taken at Central Park. "Here's a photo of my grandmother (Helen Wangerman Walsh) circa 1930 or late 1920s, keeping cool in a straw hat, shorts & halter top in Central Park." Photo courtesy of Melissa McTague.

Photo taken at Sheepshead Bay. "Playing chess on the street." Photo courtesy of Harold Cohen.

Photo taken in the Bronx. "Italian mom on a bike in the Bronx. 1948." Photo courtesy of M Prlain.

Photo taken at Century Playground. "Century Playground in Brighton Beach, aka the Seal Park." Photo courtesy of Eliza Rinn.

Photo taken at Outside of Washington Baths in Coney Island. "Here’s a picture of my cousin Lois and myself taken around 1956-1957? outside of Washington Baths in Coney Island. I was 8-9 and Lois was 7-8. It was at the end of the day. In the background was a building that housed Shatzkins knishes. It was then the famous Child’s Building My cousins and I had a routine that we followed every Saturday in the summer. My mother and I would take the D train to Coney Island from our East Broadway stop in Manhattan. My cousin Lois, my cousin Marty and my Uncle Hy and Aunt Lily would be coming also on the D train but they lived further uptown near the 2nd Avenue stop. We would meet under the Tilyou Theater on Surf Avenue at around 10. We would then proceed to the baths for a fun filled day consisting of swimming, playing ping pong and shuffleboard and playing on the separate enclose beach area that they had. At a certain time we had lunch in their outdoor dining area. I remember collecting mission soda bottle caps to play skelzy. At the beach area I always played running bases with my Uncle Hy and cousin Marty. In 1956 Marty was only 4. I remember it was a big graduation day when Marty was old enough to shower and go in the steam room with me and my uncle on the men’s side. Late in the day my father Sol would arrive. He worked in the garment center usually 6 days a week. We would meet him outside. In the picture we may have been waiting for him. Then we would have our following eating routine which would consist of knishes at Shatzkins and hot dogs at Nathans. We would sit on the barrels that Nathans had outdoors. We didn’t play any the games that the carnival barkers had but we would go in the bumper cars. By 8 or so we would all go home on the D train but before we did my father would buy the daily news and mirror and I would either read the sports section or the comics. We were all pretty exhausted and we slept soundly those evenings." Photo courtesy of David Bellel

Photo taken at Paul's Boat Yard, 560 Minnieford Ave, City Island, Bronx. "Living in the Bronx so close to City Island, my father and uncle took to boating. We belonged to a boat yard called Paul's that had a small beach and dock that people today would call a patio. It was a humble affair and nobody would dream of calling it a yacht club. As air-conditioning was not a thing back then, the boat club offered respite from the heat of the apartments. (The picture is in color because my father was a photographer.)" Photo courtesy of Jennifer Pfaender.

Photo taken at Coney Island. "Summer Love Love is in the Air." Photo courtesy of Maya Zeleny.

Photo taken at Rockaway Beach. "My grandma Helen Madej Mrowka (right) with a friend or relative relaxing in the shade under the boardwalk of the rockaways. Most likely taken in 1950’s." Photo courtesy of Tara Mrowka.

Photo taken at Orchard Beach. "My grandfather, uncle, and father at Orchard Beach, 1938." Photo courtesy of Claudia Keenan.

Photo taken at Washington Square Park "Washington Square Park circa 1958 I think. That is me." Photo courtesy of Robyn Roth-Moise

Photo taken at Henry and Market Streets under the Manhattan Bridge. "Cooling off on a hot July day - NYC style!" Photo courtesy of Henry Chu

Photo taken at Coney Island. Courtesy of Eliza Rinn.

Photo taken at Central Park. "My grandmother (Helen Wangerman Walsh) & a friend in breezy summer dresses at Central Park, early 1930s--probably a Sunday after going to church, otherwise they wouldn't have worn dresses & dress shoes to the park. I love this photo because it shows one of the park's great rock formations." Photo courtesy of Melissa McTague.

Photo taken at Coney Island. Courtesy of Katie Godowski.

Photo taken at Coney Island. "Lifeguard Warmup, Coney Island, Brooklyn." Photo courtesy of Ellynn Short.

Photo taken at Fire Island "Fire Island with my mom putting sunscreen on me and family friend." Photo courtesy of Robyn Roth-Moise

Shade makes all the difference on a hot summer day. New Yorkers have long gathered under shade trees in parks and walked on the shady side of the street to beat the heat. Shade can also be portable. A parasol or a wide-brimmed hat make time spent in the sun more tolerable. A sun canopy or umbrella makes a trip to the beach safer and cooler. However it can be found, shade provides the relief necessary for New Yorkers in the summertime.

Photo taken in Maspeth. "My dad, Ralph Mrowka’s Volkswagen loaded up with longboards for a trip to the beach. Taken in Maspeth queens circa 1960’s." Photo courtesy of Tara Mrowka.

Photo taken at Coney Island. "Coney Island about 1943. Uncles in the Navy with girlfriends." Photo courtesy of M Prlain.

Hot weather changes how New Yorkers behave, inspiring people to search for new ways to cool off in the summertime. As one journalist observed during a 1925 hot spell, “the only relief” in the city “was in water, wherever it could be found.” Water—whether it’s the fountains, fire hydrants, rivers, outer-borough beaches, public baths (both floating and on land), or public pools—could transform a sizzling summer day into a cool afternoon. Source: “Nation’s Death List 300,” New York Times, June 7, 1925, 1.

A group of children cool each other off with squirt guns next to a water fountain.

This photo caption reads: "Were you here?--This [aerial] photograph of the crowd which turned out at Coney Island [boardwalk and beach] last Sunday was taken from the parachute jump, recently moved from the World's Fair to Steeplechase Park. Police estimated that 800,000 persons were at the resort."

A group of children cool off at Colonial Park Pool in Harlem.

Children enjoy their swim in Colonial Park's olympic-size pool in Harlem.

Children play in the Washington Square Park fountain.

The caption provided reads: "Whoopee--These small fry find a pretty good way to beat the oppressive heat at McLaughlin Park, Tillary and Jay Sts., with the co-operation of an obliging Park Department which turned on the refreshing spray."

City fountains were popular spots for cooling off, especially among youngsters. In July 1925, as “the sun rose intolerantly over a baked and soaked city,” children jumped into the fountain in City Hall Park. Newspaper Row, the center of the newspaper industry, faced the park, and newsboys had set their sights on its fountain. Looking on with a grin, Mayor John F. Hylan told city police to let the children splash. Mopping his sweaty brow, Hylan remarked, “That cool water looks good to me. I wish I could join them myself!”

A group of elderly women walk poolside, competing in the Grandma Bathing Beauty Contest at Steeplechase Park, Coney Island.

For those who couldn't make it to the beach, the city's many public pools have long offered a refreshing neighborhood swim.

Water hydrants and sprinklers have long held a special place in New Yorkers' memories of dealing with the heat. Residents who wanted to temporarily transform their sun-baked neighborhoods into fountains of cool relief would often jump in sprinklers or even open water hydrants illegally.

The caption reads: "Neighbors felt cut down--Argyle Road residents were stunned when workmen [in foreground] yesterday cut down four huge shade trees alongside site of addition to Public School 139 [located at 330 Rugby Road] at corner of Cortelyou Road. They insist city promised a year ago the trees would remain. One, a consulting engineer, figured cost of removal at $800. 'A ridiculous waste of taxpayers money and a handsome, tree-lined street is ruined in the bargain,' he said."

Two men playing chess on beach. A close-up photograph of two men relaxing on Coney Island Beach while playing chess.

Beachgoers sit under a large sign with its reminders clearly printed: "Yes! Enjoy Coney Island, New York City Department of Parks ..."

Two men sitting on Good Humor Ice Cream boxes enjoy ice cream bars at Coney Island Beach.

A young man and young woman find a creative way to relax with one another on Coney Island Beach.

Beachgoers enjoy the surf at Manhattan Beach.

Provided caption reads: "Natalio, Esther, Gail, Johnathan and Joseph spend the summer day at Jones Beach. June 21, 1977."

Several children play with their dog under a sprinkler. The photograph caption reads: "A dog's day at Dean St. and 6th Ave."

The photograph caption reads: "Beach weather has landed with both feet, and Marion James, model on 'The Big payoff' TV show, gets first-hand knowledge as she's framed by the Ferris wheel and the Parachute Jump at the Steeplechase pool in Coney Island. The legs belong to Pat Conway, also of the TV show."

Swimmers and sunbathers enjoy Coney Island Beach and the Atlantic Ocean on a still day (August 8, 1932).

Children play in a wading pool at Owl's Head Park located at 67th Street and Colonial Road.

The photograph caption reads: "Where there's water there's a way--Five sizzling sprouts beat today's heat from the bottom up as they settle back in play pool at McDonald Park, Jay and Tillary Sts. Left to right, Rose Fantasia, 3, and Alfred Dambrosio, 2, both of 171 Bridge St., and Carole Shargel, 5, Paula Nesenman, 4, and Diane Azuz, all of 177 Sands St." Note: The location is actually McLaughlin Park.

A nurse plays with a group of children on a beach near Seaside Hospital.

In June 1966, the *New York Times* described city streets as “a perfect place to flee from yesterday as the temperature climbed to 90 degrees on the first really hot day of the season.” One woman told a reporter, “If you’re in the city there’s only one thing to do on a day like today. Just sit under a tree.”

Since the mid-1900s, the city has distributed fire hydrant spray caps to residents. These fittings reduce hydrant streams from more than 1,000 gallons per minute to 20-30 gallons per minute, preventing waste, drops in water pressure, and flooding.