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Oct 29, 2024

Palm Springs officials unveil $800,000 playground at Demuth Park ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

Elected officials and others celebrated the opening of a new $800,000 playground at Demuth Park on Wednesday, marking the second major playground renovation in the city’s ongoing parks improvement

Elected officials and others celebrated the opening of a new $800,000 playground at Demuth Park on Wednesday, marking the second major playground renovation in the city’s ongoing parks improvement initiative.

The state-of-the-art facility features equipment designed for children ages 2 to 5, with a focus on accessibility for those with disabilities and neurodiversity challenges. Most of the equipment is shaded, an important feature in a city where the sun dominates the sky most of the year.

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Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein highlighted the playground’s inclusive design during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We’ve got the Miracle Museum, which not only is for 2 to 5 year olds, but also has ADA accessibility and accessibility for neurodiversity challenge kids,” Bernstein said.

The project, partially funded by a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant, includes expansive shade structures capable of covering up to 215 children at once.

Bernstein emphasized that the Demuth Park playground is part of a larger parks initiative in Palm Springs. A new shade-covered playground at Victoria Park was dedicated earlier this year. Three more playground renovations are scheduled, including upgrades at Baristo Park, Ruth Hardy Park, and the park at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center.

The city’s commitment to improving recreational facilities extends beyond playgrounds. Councilmember Christy Holstege referenced plans for additional amenities at Demuth Park.

“We’re not only investing in playgrounds, we also are planning a full pickleball setup here with full pickleball courts and competition-style facilities,” Holstege said.

The push for park improvements has gained significant traction in recent years. Councilmember Grace Garner noted the growing community support for such projects since her election in 2019.

“When I first ran for council in 2019, I talked a ton about parks and there were some folks who were not that interested in it,” Garner said. “And now today we have a community group that’s focused on our parks and we have just so much broad support with our parks master plan.”

Garner praised the city’s approach of addressing immediate needs while planning for long-term improvements.

“We can make these grand plans for the future of our parks while also updating the things that need updating immediately, like adding the shade structure and the new equipment,” she said.

The playground’s vibrant colors and modern design are already attracting attention. Bernstein joked that the playground’s bright hues might be visible from the air, noting, “I think you can see them from an airplane.”

The Parks and Recreation Commission played a key role in the playground’s design, helping to select equipment and color schemes. Some commissioners were present at the ribbon-cutting to celebrate the project’s completion.