• We have had the honor of designing and developing parks funded by the State of California’s Park Development and Community Revitalization Program. We have worked alongside Desert Recreation District, County of Riverside, and City of Indio on the development of projects that were awarded the Proposition 68 Grant funding.

    We recognize the value in collaborating directly with community members over the course of the design process, especially in critically underserved communities. Doing so has given us the opportunity to develop projects that best serve the community’s needs and provide them with a space where families and friends can enjoy one another’s company in a welcoming outdoor setting.

THERMAL COMMUNITY PARK

Thermal, CA

preliminary design

HDG worked with Desert Recreation District to prepare a preliminary site plan for the proposed site improvements for Thermal Community Park. This site plan was based upon a master plan that was developed through an in-depth community engagement process conducted by another firm to ensure award eligibility for the California Proposition 68 grant funding. This preliminary site plan includes the community’s desired amenities, while also adhering to a value-based design philosophy that maximizes the District’s financial resources and guarantees compliance with precise development timeline restrictions.

The design plan includes sports fields, restroom/concession buildings, parking lots, play areas, shade areas, and trails. ADA-compliant walkways, bleachers, and parking areas allow all members of the community to enjoy the park regardless of ability. The tree planting layout, planting area locations, and plant palette keep sustainability in mind by employing both aesthetically pleasing and low-maintenance horticulture.

FINAL DESIGN

As of December 2022, HDG and Desert Recreation District have been collaborating on the continued design development of Thermal Community Park. Building upon the input acquired through the community workshops conducted by KDI, five additional workshops are in progress to finalize the park design. Throughout this ongoing public engagement process, community members are encouraged to share their ideas and opinions on the amenity layout, park theme, color scheme, material selection, and park name. The park is anticipated to be complete in December 2024.

At the third workshop, three different park design concepts and site amenities were presented to community members. The workshop included an activity that provided residents with the chance to place dots on their preferred park concept and the amenities they desired most. The third plan will then be refined to incorporate other suggestions or feedback provided during the workshop.