CVMC Board approves $1.25 million for new shade structures and native trees along CV Link
COACHELLA VALLEY. — In a Valley well known for its summer heat, real shade is on the way. The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) Board approved a $1,248,586 Proposition 4 grant to the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) on August 10 to add shade structures and native shade trees at five CV Link rest stops. The CV Link opened to the public in November 2025 and includes 30 rest stops offering benches, bike racks, hydration stations, and signage, all guided by the 2016 CV Link Conceptual Master Plan.
The improvements will make CV Link more comfortable and usable for pedestrians, bicyclists and neighborhood electric vehicle users, particularly during the Coachella Valley’s increasingly hot months. The project will add shade structures and approximately 26 native shade trees at rest stops in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Coachella.
“My dad and my grandfather were professional gardeners and I still remember the lessons instilled from the front seat of my dad’s truck about the importance of trees. By planting these trees now, we are creating a greener and cooler future for generations of CV Link users to come,” said Tom Kirk, Executive Director of CVAG.
“The CV Link Shade Structures and Shade Trees Project is a strong example of the kind of investment Proposition 4 was designed to support,” said Elizabeth King, Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy. “It directly advances the goals of improving public access while helping communities adapt to the realities of extreme heat. With temperatures in the Coachella Valley regularly reaching triple digits, adding shade is more than an amenity—it is an investment in making public spaces more usable and accessible.”
The project responds directly to feedback received after CV Link opened to the public in November 2025. While the regional corridor provides an important opportunity for outdoor recreation and active transportation, extreme heat can limit when and how comfortably people can use it. Cal-Adapt projects an average of 136 days per year at or above 100°F in the Coachella Valley by 2035, and published research shows extreme heat measurably reduces pedestrian route choice and walking distances.
“Warm temperatures are a familiar aspect of daily life in the Coachella Valley, and outdoor recreation is an essential public amenity for residents and visitors alike. Expanding shaded areas throughout the valley remains an ongoing priority, and we value our partnership with CVAG in advancing improvements to this corridor,” said CVMC Chair Deborah McGarrey.
“In a valley that deals with extreme heat, this grant from CVMC is a welcome investment,” said Palm Desert Councilmember Jan Harnik, who is Chair of CVAG’s Transportation Committee. “Especially in the hotter months of the year, these additional trees and shade structures will provide a welcoming space for CV Link users while also making a positive impact for our air quality and our environment.”
The project is scheduled for completion by 2028.
About:
The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy is a California state conservancy established to acquire, protect, and manage natural and open-space lands within and surrounding the Coachella Valley region. For more information, visit the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy webpage. The next regular public meeting of the CVMC Board is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the City of Palm Desert Administrative Conference Room.
CVAG is a regional planning agency coordinating government services within the Coachella Valley. By providing solutions to the common issues of the local governments and tribes that are its members, CVAG promotes a better quality of life and balanced growth for residents of Central and Eastern Riverside County. The next regular public meeting of the CVAG Executive Committee is scheduled for September 28, 2026, at 4 p.m.
