$1 Million in Federal Aid Helps Improve Cemetery Grounds

$1 Million Federal Investment to Improve Cemetery Roads and Veterans Memorial Access

COACHELLA —The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District has secured $1 million in federal funding to rehabilitate aging roadways serving the cemetery grounds and Veterans Memorial, creating a safer and more accessible environment for thousands of annual visitors.

“I’m proud to bring these resources home,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D., “and I’ll keep fighting for investments that make life more affordable for working people.”

Financial support was secured through Community Project Funding requested by Congressman Raul Ruiz and included in the FY 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. This investment will support repairs to approximately one mile of decades-old internal cemetery roadways, including those surrounding the Veterans Memorial. It will restore key access and roadway segments that have degraded over time due to age, weather, and regular use. Expected to cost $1.4 million in total, the federal funding covers roughly 70 percent of the project.

CVPCD serves families from Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, and communities throughout the eastern Coachella Valley, welcoming thousands of visitors annually, including veterans’ families who gather at the Veterans Memorial to commemorate military service and sacrifice.

“The Board of Trustees appreciates Congressman Raul Ruiz’s support in securing this federal investment,” said CVPCD Board Chair Ernesto Rosales. “These federal resources reflect a sustained effort by CVPCD to address long-standing infrastructure needs in a responsible way. These resources allow us to make critical improvements while helping keep costs down for the families we serve.”

While the funds have been appropriated by Congress, CVPCD officials will be working with federal partners in the coming months to finalize the agreement and begin planning the project.

“This road repair effort is about more than infrastructure; it is about the experience families have when they come to honor their loved ones,” said CVPCD General Manager Joshua Bonner.  “We believe our community deserves a beautiful, well-maintained cemetery and Veterans Memorial, and we are grateful for Congressman Raul Ruiz’s continued support in helping move this project forward.”

CVPCD is hopeful the work could begin in late 2026 or early 2027, pending finalization of a formal construction timeline. Updates will be provided to the community as the improvement effort progresses. For the latest information, visit CVPCD.org.

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About the District: The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District was formed on August 8, 1927, under Section 8890 of the California Health and Safety Code. District boundaries include approximately 3,450 square miles. The District has performed over 24,000 interments and set over 15,000 grave markers. The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District is a Special District, a special-purpose governmental unit that exists independently from local governments such as counties and cities. The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery is one of over 265 public cemetery districts in California.