Palm Desert council weighs university lease versus city‑owned park to meet North End athletic needs
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Summary
Council reviewed two park options for the North End: a 20‑year CSUSB lease costing about $250,000/year (about $6 million over 20 years) that could limit weekday public access, and a city‑owned University/North End site that would give broader public use but require higher upfront purchase and maintenance. Council asked staff to pursue options that
Council members continued a study session discussion on possible park sites to serve increasing athletic and recreation needs in Palm Desert’s North End, weighing a long‑term lease of campus land at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) against expanding the city‑controlled University/North End (UNSP) site.
Parks staff presented a concept plan and a formal appraisal for the CSUSB site and summarized the tradeoffs. The CSUSB option was described as a proposed 20‑year lease at $250,000 per year — an amount staff said is based on an appraisal and would escalate over time (staff estimated roughly $6,000,000 over 20 years). The campus site would accommodate several full‑size soccer fields, pickleball courts, basketball, playground areas and shaded benches, but staff cautioned that weekday access could be limited because the college would reserve some use for students and that parking and some infrastructure upgrades would be required.
By contrast, staff said the UNSP site could be acquired as a city‑owned park with fewer weekday access limitations and fewer parking conflicts. "We expect that to be over $100,000 a year" in maintenance for a site of this scale, staff said; councilmembers later suggested figures as high as $200,000 per year depending on acreage and programming. Staff also noted the UNSP location offers flexibility to consolidate open‑space parcels to enlarge programming areas if the council wants to pursue additional acreage.
Council members and public commenters emphasized the need for athletic fields for youth sports. One parks committee member told the council the committee expected a roughly 40‑acre facility rather than the 22–23 acres currently proposed for one block. Mayor Jan C. Harnick said the CSUSB price and restricted use concern her: "I have real issues thinking that we should pay the CSUSB $6,000,000 for a lease for 20 years...and then we will have limited use of it." Other council members urged that staff explore whether the 22‑acre block in the specific plan could be expanded and to prioritize city ownership where feasible.
Staff highlighted that the University Specific Plan contains roughly 56 acres of programmable space within a larger 170‑acre area and said the 22‑acre figure was not locked in. Staff asked the council three questions: whether the UNSP can sufficiently accommodate park needs, whether the UNSP can be adjusted for more flexibility, and whether the CSUSB site is worth pursuing further. Council direction emphasized preference for city ownership and larger acreage to meet youth athletic demand, while acknowledging the CSUSB option could activate the campus but may be expensive and limit public use.
The city did not take a formal vote on either site at this meeting; staff were directed to report back with follow‑up options and clarifications on costs, parking mitigation and acreage scenarios.