[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6305068,"mediaKeyId","2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c","parentId",2452506,"title","Parks staff report: Duluth court expansion approved, master plan nearly complete, public art proposals advance","audioSeconds",94,"startMs",2419685,"endMs",2514430,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c&start=2419&end=2514","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c/thumbnail_2419685.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305068/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Parks-staff-report-Duluth-court-expansion-approved-master-plan-nearly-complete-public-art-proposals-advance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305068-e2ce5eb8395633526a653efeb2b59437/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154518&Signature=mNLrfp9nLjVp5hxOj~zmxsdokQSYoxJs5~B99HovRhd5~HUNxd8biq1jwiFRQAqchJwk9DI~8KN2Zcl2PSd8fv26OLnedx1oqOj70F3jaLuHw3ZWVqCfyY0htB~SCWKuB6IYf8Kcev07pnZ2h5wFqhcnDEsah4OWFZQlrX1sJgZogaSfVYXIuzLlAfHjalFoquBlc2KkJV0jLyFfUagBR8tQ-K~OlYrMYQWfa9~f9hk0e9MvZqXq9S4enrRk3i18Mnoncy0snxUfA0FW1f~AVnm-59FzhXmZAPJiZXRXlkiZDRqawYulmPXCUcBo-AFWZmE4EoVBbNA3erutGBWRGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Palm Springs CA","date","2025-02-25T18:52:17Z","article","Parks and Recreation staff briefed the commission on a series of projects and public-art proposals during the Feb. 24 meeting.

Staff said the Duluth Park Pinnacle Court Expansion was approved by City Council on Feb. 13 and that the project has been posted for bid. A staff presenter said contractors’ bids are awaited before construction begins and that a temporary replacement play area will be arranged during construction.

On the master plan, staff reported being “about 98% complete” and said they are awaiting an environmental review from the Community Development Department; once that review is finished staff will return the final plan to City Council for adoption.

Construction updates included near-complete work at Desert Islands Park’s exercise equipment and active installation at the Demuth playground, where surfacing, structure assembly and curing timelines are underway. Staff noted minor repairs were needed on several exercise units and that vendors are supplying replacement parts. Staff also reported the city added a new Recreation Program Assistant, Kelvin Wood, who will work at the Demuth Community Center.

Staff gave multiple updates on public-art activity. A DesertX installation permit is in review; the contractor plans to begin installation Thursday after a downtown event, subject to permit approval. The Art in Parks program presented three proposals the commission discussed: relocation of the “Popsicles” piece to a leisure-center wall by the swim center (art commission sign-off pending commission concurrence), a “Dragonfly” shade piece (an artist resubmitted a $30,000 design after earlier review), and a larger shade sculpture titled Beautiful Shades (also called “Parkside Gossip”) proposed for Ruth Hardy Park. Staff said the public-art commission will fund one Beautiful Shades piece for the City’s collection and that additional units could be fabricated later if the parks department wants to place more within the system.

Artscape installations at Desert Highland, Victoria Park, Gateway Park and Baristo Park are on track for installation by May 19; staff said they prefer simultaneous installation for greater community and media impact.

No formal commission vote was recorded on these items at the Feb. 24 meeting; staff sought direction and reported timelines, bid postings and permitting steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission | February 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission the Duluth Park Pinnacle Court Expansion was approved by City Council and is out to bid; the parks master plan is nearly complete pending environmental review, and multiple public-art proposals and installations are moving forward.","taxTitle","Palm Springs, Riverside County, California","taxId",55405,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305070,"Residents urge moratorium on tree cutting, cite poor landscaping maintenance across Palm Springs parks",1814,165065,1979625,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c&start=165&end=1979","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c/thumbnail_165065.jpg","/articles/6305070/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Residents-urge-moratorium-on-tree-cutting-cite-poor-landscaping-maintenance-across-Palm-Springs-parks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305070-36465fc0f59ffe53f5ba7e0724becda5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154518&Signature=JjrLZbo345IcSIMVf40R5289j9nplrlAyV8VYIqFPfUCACvOpPRg7EMxzApg8OL5uphhATgr6fFVqLyvMKDQcrTKR7iGgwoHk3-2WNnLIe6xmYsJbUFHjmSVQpUnLNZmqeaT5iuJFfpOcHuLUzTvjierBuXvkxXvBf0jP1SXZEqg2kcBrXd9XkTVZ6is35TQQlWTdVR~jBOuokmyb13bc65jNmxHBycnqYfcyGCNYrviDftSZYGwRd-vyvmxwysCcye98qcRYVuxoMBYnoXzYKj-pDKoG0t9k6U2g5oTlNhSUYQxkdzUTJdZyoB2-hSLZAEFgmlGQEX5yVNHr2m09w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment on Feb. 24 included extended testimony from a longtime gardener who urged a temporary stop to non-emergency tree cutting and criticized city and contractor pruning practices.

William Miller, a resident who described more than 50 years of horticulture experience, told the commission trees “create shade and cooling. They clean the air, improve our property values, help save energy, and reduce our carbon footprint.” He said many trees have been “attacked annually” by untrained maintenance crews and urged “a moratorium on cutting any tree for several years unless there is a health or danger issue.” Miller also reported local rainfall records held by his own journal: “Since last March, we’ve had about 1 inch of rain,” he said, noting the arid conditions make trees and plantings more vulnerable.

Other public commenters echoed concerns about landscape degradation at several sites. Speakers said a former rose garden near City Hall is now primarily bougainvillea and that new beds at spots such as Cocos Canyon and Ruth Hardy Park have many plants that are dead or poorly maintained. Helen Buchanan, a nearby resident, said newly planted trees at Ruth Hardy Park are small and inclined and that a water fountain replacement resulted in a fixture that does not fill bowls for dogs as the prior spout did.

Parks staff heard multiple appeals for qualified horticultural maintenance and for replacement of canopy trees and shade structures to restore park usability, especially for seniors and dog‑park users who rely on shaded seating. The commission did not take an immediate formal action but acknowledged the concerns and will consider them as part of ongoing maintenance planning and the department’s master‑plan work.

Speakers asked for clarity on whether city crews or contracted vendors are responsible for current maintenance choices and for better communication to residents about tree replacement schedules. The transcript shows repeated pleas for hiring “qualified, trained people” rather than ad‑hoc crews.

No binding prohibition on tree removal was adopted at the meeting; the commission and staff signaled they would incorporate the comments into maintenance scheduling and future planning of tree‑replacement and irrigation efforts.","At the Feb. 24 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, longtime gardeners and residents criticized perceived over-pruning and untrained contractors, called for a temporary moratorium on non-emergency tree removal and raised concerns about dead plantings in multiple park beds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305072,"Palm Springs officials, residents agree to form focus group after widespread complaints about DeMuth dog parks",4138,411675,4550130,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c&start=411&end=4550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452506-4043387af8be1d7e16c28af8e478727c/thumbnail_411675.jpg","/articles/6305072/Palm-Springs/Riverside-County/California/Palm-Springs-officials-residents-agree-to-form-focus-group-after-widespread-complaints-about-DeMuth-dog-parks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305072-72379d6c3dee07e0cd89551fcb3e2f73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154518&Signature=KWmCRiMRQkESdE4OsCZMDnqx6PKH1kOwVjuVXDfON-C9r9RHnBw8DeOtx05eklqm~XeUt2c6EngCedThnhhh2tmbKBEs5j3-xj2vUQhTcx2MZptiQZxPWhqqOJb-Ch7At2AbjU8x2fmROURxH0nxcoJxHjUklvpXlPwCD4Rowa0USXwBXBLtz6c8k~f5E~qDBsWa~K4w-3gt~c~aV2yZ6MLHdRXZA0aqpoqXJbHuSRs2D84cXsFcTScpGr9VcCPuLKXy1LcED8hAE6WUI13ys6oUex-paGjfG~fC14WEqIeC1ntpA1V6eNoY0erobP97OTFfps6XnfFJHZyA6I8QCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chair called the Parks and Recreation Commission to order on Feb. 24 and opened the meeting’s public-comment period to sustained criticism and requests for action about the DeMuth dog parks behind City Hall.

Several frequent users said the small-dog area is overrun with patio chairs, lacks shade and has poor turf. “The small dog park is probably the worst small dog park I’ve ever visited,” said Cara, a resident who has used the site since 2023. Marty Fritz, a local resident who submitted comparison photos from other Coachella Valley parks, said the small park had “gradual deterioration” and asked whether park funding is equitably allocated.

Parks staff told the commission they are pursuing a grant-funded redesign of the DeMuth dog park. “We are expected to open this in mid‑2026,” a Parks and Recreation staff member said during the meeting, referring to the improvements funded in part by a Land and Water Conservation Fund award. Staff said plan review, specifications and cost estimates are under review and that the city has requested a time extension from the state grant administrator after delaying the project.

Staff also described existing maintenance routines: the City currently schedules closures of the DeMuth dog parks for maintenance every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 3 p.m., and performs seasonal closures when needed. Staff reported heavy daily use at the site and said that high patron traffic contributes to turf failure.

Multiple speakers pressed the commission about seating and safety. “I worry she’s going to run into one of these chairs,” Cara said, describing patio chairs left in play areas. Parks staff noted there are “over 30 chairs” in the small dog park that were brought by park users; the city does not supply those chairs and said many are not commercial-grade park furniture.

Commissioners and staff agreed there was no simple overnight fix. Instead, they endorsed forming a focused, public ad hoc group to gather regular input from dog-park users and other stakeholders. Staff proposed holding that focus group during the week of March 24 and posting notification at both dog‑park sites so regular users are aware. The commission requested at least two weeks’ notice to maximize participation.

Staff emphasized the city’s ongoing commitment to keeping the dog parks open and to completing a thoughtful redesign rather than applying short-term “band-aid” fixes. Staff said some items — such as additional netting to block balls from adjacent ball fields and longer-term turf replacement — require further review and will be considered as part of the overall design and grant schedule.

The meeting closed the dog‑park discussion with staff agreeing to coordinate date, location and outreach for the ad hoc focus group and to return recommendations to the commission for follow-up.","Residents at the Feb. 24 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting pressed city staff on maintenance, safety and seating at the DeMuth dog parks. Staff outlined a grant-funded redesign timeline and agreed to assemble an ad hoc focus group by the week of March 24 to gather user input before construction begins.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks staff report: Duluth court expansion approved, master plan nearly complete, public art proposals advance

Residents urge moratorium on tree cutting, cite poor landscaping maintenance across Palm Springs parks

Palm Springs officials, residents agree to form focus group after widespread complaints about DeMuth dog parks