An outdoor cooling unit (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) configured to provide cooling air for persons in proximity to the outdoor cooling unit (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600), the outdoor cooling unit (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) comprising: a base (102; 202; 302; 502) having a housing (108; 308; 508) with control components installed therein; a cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504) attached to the base (102; 202; 302; 502) at a first end of the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504), the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504) having an inner flow path and an exterior surface; and an air distribution system (106; 206; 306; 506) attached to the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504) at a second end of the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504), the air distribution system (106; 206; 306; 506) including: a first enclosure; a second enclosure defining an air distribution chamber (126; 326; 526) between the first and second enclosures (130, 132); a cool air dispenser configured in the first enclosure; a warm air dispenser configured in the first enclosure at a location different from the cool air dispenser; and a cover (144; 344; 544) disposed on an exterior surface of the second enclosure, wherein the control components are configured to convey air through the base (102; 202; 302; 502), the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504), and the air distribution system (106; 206; 306; 506) to dispense air through the cool air dispenser and the warm air dispenser, characterized in that a heat exchanger (362; 562) is located within the base (102; 202; 302; 502) and configured to cool water that flows through the outdoor cooling unit (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600). a base (102; 202; 302; 502) having a housing (108; 308; 508) with control components installed therein; a cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504) attached to the base (102; 202; 302; 502) at a first end of the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504), the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504) having an inner flow path and an exterior surface; and an air distribution system (106; 206; 306; 506) attached to the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504) at a second end of the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504), the air distribution system (106; 206; 306; 506) including: a first enclosure; a second enclosure defining an air distribution chamber (126; 326; 526) between the first and second enclosures (130, 132); a cool air dispenser configured in the first enclosure; a warm air dispenser configured in the first enclosure at a location different from the cool air dispenser; and a cover (144; 344; 544) disposed on an exterior surface of the second enclosure, a first enclosure; a second enclosure defining an air distribution chamber (126; 326; 526) between the first and second enclosures (130, 132); a cool air dispenser configured in the first enclosure; a warm air dispenser configured in the first enclosure at a location different from the cool air dispenser; and a cover (144; 344; 544) disposed on an exterior surface of the second enclosure, wherein the control components are configured to convey air through the base (102; 202; 302; 502), the cooling tower (104; 204; 304; 504), and the air distribution system (106; 206; 306; 506) to dispense air through the cool air dispenser and the warm air dispenser, characterized in that a heat exchanger (362; 562) is located within the base (102; 202; 302; 502) and configured to cool water that flows through the outdoor cooling unit (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600).