Council endorses Miles Avenue Park site for 9/11 and veterans memorials; staff to refine designs and public input

The Indio City Council gave general support Aug. 20 to recommendations from the Arts Commission and Community Services Commission to locate a 9/11 memorial near the library and a crescent‑shaped veterans memorial in Miles Avenue Park.

City Manager Brian Montgomery told the council the commissions reviewed several alternatives and recommended placing the 9/11 memorial on the grassy corner adjacent to the library — a location commissioners said would allow museum visitors and students to visit the memorial while allowing room for commemorative events. The veterans memorial was recommended for a rectangular area identified in the park master plan; concept images shown to the council included pillars and sculptural monumentation with integrated lighting.

Council members took up practical design considerations. Councilmember Ortiz requested that staff evaluate the veterans memorial’s backdrop so photos taken at ceremonies would not show parking lots; staff said the design team could consider a planted green wall or move the monument slightly to gain a more attractive background. Several council members asked that the memorial explicitly recognize all military branches (including the National Guard and the newest service branches) and discussed adding a tribute to service animals.

Montgomery said the veterans memorial will require public outreach and a design‑selection process; the proposed timeline calls for further public input and an artist/monumentist selection process (likely via an RFP). He also noted that the city and commissions envision using recycled water for park irrigation and that the memorial area sits within an existing park master plan recommendation for memorials.

Councilmembers expressed support for the commissions’ recommendation and asked staff to return with refined renderings that address photo backdrops, inclusion of all service branches, and details about materials and maintenance. No formal vote was required for the design recommendations; the council indicated consensus to proceed with commission recommendations and additional design work.

Why it matters: Miles Avenue Park is a central, visible park in Indio; siting both memorials there aims to make them accessible for residents and school groups, to support commemorative events and to integrate public art into a civic open space.

What’s next: Staff will take the council’s design comments back to the Arts and Community Services commissions, refine renderings (including options for photo‑friendly orientations and planting screens), develop an RFP/artist selection process, and return with a recommended design and cost estimate for council consideration.