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Desert Hot Springs awards Skyborn Park design contract, residents push quieter, family-focused amenities
Summary
Council authorized a professional services agreement with David Evans & Associates for Skyborn Park design (design budget presented as $392,215 plus 10% contingency, total $431,436.50), and residents urged limiting sports-field lighting and favoring playgrounds, walking paths and security measures in future design outreach.
The Desert Hot Springs City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with David Evans & Associates to complete engineering design for the Skyborn Park project.
Staff described the Skyborn Park site as a 5.28-acre parcel north of Pearson Boulevard that the Skyborn developer dedicated to the city as part of the approved specific plan. Staff said the design contract presented to council is not to exceed $392,215 with a 10% contingency (a total design budget shown in staff materials as $431,436.50), to be paid from the Skyborn development fund; staff also noted ongoing efforts to pursue grant funding for construction.
The design scope includes a conceptual phase (utility coordination, topographic survey, geotechnical work and an online community survey), two concept alternatives with in-person public outreach, and a final design phase including grading, landscape and street-improvement plans. Staff emphasized that public outreach will inform final amenity choices.
Residents who spoke during public comment asked staff and the consultant to limit stadium-style lighting and preserve desert night skies, and suggested prioritizing playgrounds, walking paths, a splash pad, pickleball courts and added security rather than a large illuminated baseball stadium. Sean Johnson, a Skyborn resident and local business owner, noted concerns about light trespass from tall sports lighting and asked the city to consider alternate amenities.
Councilmembers stressed the community-outreach process and neighborhood security during the design phase. The motion to execute the agreement passed unanimously. Staff said they will proceed with consultant-led outreach to shape the final design and will return with follow-up materials before advertising for construction bids.
Note on transcript numbers: staff referenced developer funding in the presentation but the spoken amount was unclear in the record; staff materials in the report listed the design budget and contingency above.
