The residents of the Dream Homes neighborhood have taken steps towards enriching their community. These residents are currently working with the Desert Healthcare District to establish a Place-Based Initiative (P.B.I.) to allow residents to identify what they believe their neighborhood needs. According to the Center for the Study of Social Policy, research has proven that families do better when they live in strong and supportive communities. The ‘place’ where you live matters. A reasonable approach to ensuring that all neighborhoods become the kinds of places that enable all children and families to thrive requires intentional resident-led efforts to build, sustain and operationalize community capacity.
On Thursday, July 20, 2017, the City hosted the first community meeting of the Place-Based Initiative process for the residents of the Dream Homes neighborhood. The meeting was presented by Desert Healthcare District, Loma Linda University, and El Sol Neighborhood Center. This informational session provided residents with information about the P.B.I. process that included the type of training that will be available to the leaders of the neighborhood to conduct a community assessment, what type of information the assessment will gather, the timeline to complete this process, and the positive outcomes the neighborhood will see from establishing the initiative. This meeting also provided a forum for these residents to ask questions and suggest ideas for initiating the process. The next step will be to select the champions of the neighborhood and provide them with formal training.
The City of Cathedral City has been in collaboration with these agencies and residents and fully supports these efforts to building better communities.
In addition to this support, the City has applied for an Urban Greening Grant to help fund some of the landscaping features for the proposed park located in between the Dream Homes Neighborhood and the Cathedral City Bike Path, the first section of the new CV Link. The proposed park is a 7.26-acre parcel that abuts the Bike Path that will include trail heads allowing for access to the proposed park. The City’s goal is to develop a park that promotes a healthier lifestyle for residents while providing a place where people using the CV Link can stop and enjoy as they travel to their destination.
Cathedral City continues to invest in public improvements in cooperation with the neighborhood. In July 2016, the City installed sidewalks as requested by the neighborhood. This project provided connectivity and walkable path of travel for residents and children to navigate within the neighborhood while providing safer routes to and from school. The City also hired a contractor to apply rubberized slurry to the neighborhood streets to improve and prolong the life of the streets.
Additionally, the Palm Springs Unified School District is currently rebuilding the Agua Caliente Elementary School located in the heart of the Dream Homes neighborhood. The result will be a brand new, state-of-the-art educational center which will improve the learning experience for the children attending this school.
The City is also committed to reinvesting in this area; connecting residents to areas of the City to the east and bringing economic opportunities.
As part of the commitment to continue to foster community pride, starting August 1st, the City will begin an effort to clean up and beautify the area nearest the future neighborhood park site and CV Link spur along the eastern edge of the Dream Homes neighborhood. This will involve engaging the adjacent residents and giving them an opportunity to dispose of inoperable vehicles and unwanted items. The effort will also include the cleanup and removal of debris from the future park site and securing the area to prevent illegal discarding of unwanted materials. We anticipate the clean up to be completed by October 1st and just in time for the grand opening of Cathedral City’s newest recreational opportunity, the Cathedral City Bike Trail / and first section of CV Link.
It is the City Council’s belief that investing in neighborhoods and providing access to recreational opportunities produces strong, healthy communities. Once more, the ‘place’ where you live matters in ensuring all neighbors have an equitable opportunity to live peacefully, access quality schools, further one’s knowledge about healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. This is the goal for all generations, young and mature, living in the Dream Homes neighborhood. I am pleased to report that the community continues its trajectory towards enrichment.
