The City of Cathedral City invites residents to review the finalists and share input through August 3, 2026.
The finalists are in — and now it’s Cathedral City’s turn to weigh in on the mural that will greet every visitor to Esperanza Park.
Following a competitive statewide call for artists, the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission has selected the top finalists to design a permanent mural on the back wall of Esperanza Park’s restroom building, facing the CV Link regional trail. Before the final artist is chosen, the community — especially the residents of the Dream Homes neighborhood — is being asked to share which design speaks to them.
The survey is open now and closes at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2026.
A Mural Rooted in Hope
Esperanza — Spanish for “hope” — is the name residents chose for the 7.5-acre park that opened in the Dream Homes community after years of advocacy. It’s home to children’s play areas, shaded picnic spaces, fitness equipment, sports fields, basketball courts, a dog park, and a direct connection to the CV Link.
The mural will be the second permanent public art installation at the park, joining an entryway sculpture inspired by community input. Measuring approximately 9.5 by 30 feet, it will be seen daily by trail users, cyclists, and families along one of the Coachella Valley’s most utilized multi-modal routes.
Themes to Look For
The mural is funded by a California Arts in California Parks grant, part of Cathedral City’s broader “Esperanza Rising” cultural series. As you review the finalist designs, consider how each artist interprets the four guiding themes:
- Echoes of the Past — honoring the cultural roots of the Dream Homes community and the ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- Voices of the Present — capturing the energy, talent, and identity of Cathedral City today
- Visions of the Future — inviting the community to dream boldly
- Together We Heal — celebrating connection, restoration, and resilience
What Happens Next
Community input will be presented to the Public Arts Commission on August 11, 2026, when commissioners will make their final selection. The City Council is scheduled to award the contract on August 26, 2026, with painting to begin September 10, 2026 and a public unveiling on October 10, 2026.
Residents of Dream Homes will also be invited to help paint the mural alongside the selected artist — turning a work of public art into a shared act of community.
Share Your Voice
Take the community input survey
Survey closes Sunday, August 3, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
For questions, contact Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager, at aambrose@cathedralcity.gov or (760) 770-0331.
