Palm Springs parks director summarizes hires, public art approvals, playground completions and summer programming

Parks staff provided a wide-ranging director's report at the March 20 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, announcing new personnel, completed park improvements, public-art approvals and a schedule of spring and summer events.

The report said the City Council on March 12 approved on-call emergency restoration and remediation services contracts and accepted several completed installations: playground equipment at Baristo Park and outdoor exercise equipment at Desert Highland Park. Staff also reported completion and council acceptance pending for LED field lighting at Danube Park and Palm Springs Stadium.

Personnel and public art Staff announced two personnel additions: Sebastian Napier, hired as a recreation program assistant at the Demuth Community Center, and Nisha Thomas, appointed assistant director of parks and recreation with a start date of April 14. Staff described Napier’s background as involving customer service, work with at‑risk and disabled youth, and culinary experience in Australia.

On public art, staff reported that council approved public-art funds for projects at Ruth Hardy Park and Sunrise Park, and that the "popsicles" public-art installation proposed for Sunrise Park will go to the council for approval on March 27. The department also submitted a letter of intent for an Arts in California Parks planning-and-development grant for restoration of the Wyatt Mural at the James O'Jesse Desert Island Community Center; staff said the requested grant amount is $150,000 with a total project estimate of about $325,000 and an expected response from grantors in mid-April.

Programs, camps and cost details Staff reminded the commission that summer camp registration opens in May. The department gave the fee schedule it will use for camps: $80 per week for Palm Springs residents and $95 per week for nonresidents; an annual membership fee is required. A scholarship application for camp scholarships is available at the Leisure Center.

Events and outreach Staff listed upcoming events including a movie-in-the-park series (Elemental at Ruth Hardy Park on March 28; The Wild Robot at Demuth Park on April 16), a playground ribbon cutting at Baristo Park at 2 p.m. on April 10, a family paint-and-snack night on April 4, an Easter celebration and egg hunt at James O'Jesse Desert Island Community Center on April 18, an Arbor Day/Earth Day tree-planting partnership on April 26, and other seasonal festivals and activities. Staff also said six department staff attended the California Parks and Recreation Society conference in Sacramento and returned with ideas to improve operations.

Facility maintenance and smaller projects Staff noted the recent refresh of the Rudy Park bathroom building by Public Works and said the department received community compliments. Staff also described site assessments for solar pathway lighting and an initial design estimate of approximately $69,000 for pathway design and $104,000 to procure solar lighting fixtures for Desert Highland Park; staff emphasized those estimates did not include installation or soft costs.

Commissioners asked about scholarships, event sponsorship and the city’s role in selecting bands for concerts; staff said the chamber of commerce partners on concerts and that staff will follow up on band selection and sponsorship questions.

The director's report concluded with a reminder that the department will share a calendar of parks and recreation events for the remainder of 2025 and that the calendar is subject to change.