News from: Desert Recreation District

Construction of the Oasis del Desierto (Oasis of the Desert) park, proudly named with input from the residents who live in and around Oasis, is underway by Desert Recreation District (DRD) after several years of design and planning with the community and Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI).  The park sits between Pierce and Harrison streets in the east valley community of Oasis.

In the Fall of 2016, after DRD had purchased a former elementary school site from the Coachella Valley Unified School District to build a community park in Oasis, a soccer field was developed and opened as a temporary measure to provide immediate access to the most frequently requested activity in the community, soccer. Over the following months and years, numerous meetings were held with members of the community to solicit their input on what amenities they would like to see in the park.

Phase I will include restrooms and a playground area, the soccer field, a sport court and exercise equipment.  Additional phases will include a community center building, picnic area, half-size court, and therapeutic garden as well as a school bus drop-off area, pedestrian crossing and parking.

With funding received from Riverside County EDA, the Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy, and the Land & Water Conservation Fund, the DRD is grateful to the partners, sponsors and supporters who have made this park a reality.

Desert Recreation District’s General Manager Kevin Kalman shared “DRD is crucial in providing health and wellness opportunities for every resident of the Coachella Valley. Oasis del Desierto park is the second of three new parks being developed in the park poor eastern Coachella Valley.” Kalman went on to say “We are thrilled to begin construction on what will surely become a community wellness hub and trusted gathering place meeting the unique needs of the Oasis community such as access to healthy foods, physical activity, social connections, and connections to the outdoors. Please join us in the late spring as we cut the ribbon and open Oasis del Desierto park.”

Because of safety measures in place due to COVID-19, rather than holding an in-person groundbreaking event, DRD has put together a video that shares messages about the park from various community members and partners in the project.  The video, as well as updates about the park along the way, can be accessed at MyRecreationDistrict.com or on social media FB@MyRecreationDistrict and Twitter@/mydrd.

About Desert Recreation District

Desert Recreation District (DRD) is the largest park and recreation district in California, covering over 1,800 square miles and serving more than 380,000 residents throughout the greater Coachella Valley.  In addition to managing, maintaining, and assisting in maintaining more than 30 parks and recreation facilities and creating and delivering quality programs, services and classes, thanks to strategic partnerships we have been able to bring essential services such as Rapid-Response Food Distributions, COVID-19 Testing, Flu Shots, a Distance-Learning Program and more to Valley residents. This community collaborative approach allows us to not only provide barrier-free and safe recreational activities, but to also bring critical resources where they are needed, thereby helping to create stronger communities and healthier citizens.