Councilors Focus on Recreational Opportunities

The City Council is also moving forward on a more permanent initiative for ongoing recreational activities

CATHEDRAL CITY — While Cathedral City has long recognized the need for more recreational opportunities for its youth, seniors, and families, the recent pandemic and the needs that arose out of the lockdown and stay-at-home periods have caused the City Council and staff to “press forward quicker and more boldly” to rehabilitate and improve facilities that residents use, Mayor Raymond Gregory told Uken Report.

To that end, during its goal-setting session in January, the City Council developed a goal to support Parks and Community Events Commission priorities for improvements to parks facilities in the  community.

The result is that the City Council allocated $2.1 million for parks improvements.

The following items are just a snapshot of what’s included in the approved budget:

Panorama Park

• Repair and renew safety surfaces on play equipment
• Repair sidewalks at the SE corner of the park alongside Avenida Maravilla and Tachevah.
• Repair and restore tennis court fencing and repair and restripe tennis court surfacing
• Install security gates on restrooms and improve restroom facilities
• Improvements to meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) including concrete and asphalt surfacing, bathroom facilities, benches and tables and baseball seating
• Install a shade structure over the play equipment
• Extend the basketball court to full size

Century Park

• Repair and renew safety surfaces on play equipment
• Repair and restore tennis court fencing and repair and restripe tennis court surfacing
• Install security gates on restrooms and improve restroom facilities
• Improvements to meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) including concrete and asphalt surfacing, bathroom facilities, benches and tables
• Install a shade structure over the play equipment
• Add additional light poles along with electric signage
• Resurface the parking lot

Dog Parks

• Construct a dog park within Panorama Park
• Construct a dog park adjacent to the new Fire Station on Buddy Rogers in downtown

You may read the complete list here. 

“And this is just the beginning, with plans for new park facilities and other improvements in various stages of planning,” Gregory said. “Stay tuned!”

In this same theme is the emergence of public art in local parks and additions around the library.

Additionally, the City Council has revived the planned use of the Cathedral City High School swimming pool for swim lessons, classes, and open swimming for the summer of 2022, Gregory said. This venture will be in partnership with the Palm Springs Unified School District and the Desert Recreation District using contracts funded by the city.

“The City Council is also moving forward a more permanent initiative for ongoing recreational activities in Cathedral City by asking voters to consider and approve a parcel tax to permanently join our city area with the Desert Recreation District, which would include a community center in Cathedral City,” Gregory said. “Our hope is to bring that before city voters in November 2022.”

The City of Cathedral City has focused for many years on building great public spaces and turning our downtown into a premiere Arts and Entertainment District, Gregory said.

“While work continues there, the latest additions to this area; the Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City and the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, as well as the refurbishment of the Gregory Pettis Fountain of Life, have helped the downtown reach a place where more attention can now be devoted to public spaces in the neighborhoods,” Gregory said. “The City Council and staff, assisted by the Parks & Community Events Commission and the Public Arts Commission, have pivoted focus to the needs of our residents in having high quality fun facilities primarily for local residents to enjoy.”