PS I <3 U - Summer 2026

PALM SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A TOAST TO PALM SPRINGS'

NEW ERA

THE OWNERS OF AFTER HOURS LEAD A MOVEMENT THAT'S REJUVENATING THE DESERT

Wendy Beerbower (Immediate Past President)

Eisenhower Health

John Bolton Oak View Group, Plaza Theatre

Kate Anderson

Agua Caliente Band

Kristin Bloomer

Mizell Senior Center

Todd Burke (President Elect)

Visit Greater Palm Springs

Chris Drumm Hall Wines

Kelly McLean Poppy

Daniel Meier

Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)

Bryan Rogers Boozehounds

Kim Roznoski Grocery Outlet

Scott Saunders

Walter Clark

Kelly Teo

Parker Palm Springs

Gabriel Terrado

Jackalope Ranch

Alexandra Phillips General Manager O’Donnell Golf Club

Catherine Abbott

College of the Desert Foundation

Naomi Soto Mayor

David H. Ready Mayor Pro Tem

Jeffrey Bernstein Councilmember

Ron deHarte Councilmember

Grace Garner Councilmember CHAMBER STAFF

Nona Watson CEO

Brittne Meier Executive Assistant

Michael Ellis Community Relations Director

Evan Gray Director of Programs

Araceli Flores Office Assistant

Chamber Magazine Staff

Nona Watson

Amy Blaisdell Executive Editors

Daniel Vaillancourt

Editor

Maru Palmersheim

Art Director

David A. Lee

Sasha Middleton

Randolph "raysalone" Mullen

David Potter

Patrick Troll Photographers

A Message From the City Manager

As summer arrives in Palm Springs, our city is focused on keeping residents safe, connected, and active while continuing to invest in the places and programs that make our community thrive.

One of the most important seasonal efforts is wildfire prevention. This year, the Palm Springs Fire Department completed its annual brush removal program ahead of peak fire conditions, clearing more than 100 acres across 14 city parcels. Now in its third year under Fire Chief Paul Alvarado, the initiative reduces wildfire fuel, improves emergency access, and strengthens community resilience. Just as important, residents continue to play a key role by maintaining defensible space around their homes, an ongoing partnership that directly improves public safety.

Summer also brings opportunities to cool off and come together. The recently refreshed Downtown Splash Pad is once again open, offering families a safe and welcoming place to beat the heat.

Across town, the Palm Springs Swim Center remains a hub of activity, with open swim hours, water fitness classes, and community programs designed for all ages. From lap swimming to evening “Dive-In Movies,” it continues to be one of our most popular summer destinations.

At the same time, Palm Springs continues to invest in recreation for the future. Construction is well underway at Demuth Park, where a major expansion will bring 22 new pickleball courts and upgraded amenities in early fall. This project reflects both the rapid growth of the sport and our commitment to high-quality, inclusive public spaces.

Regional collaboration is also helping improve one of the area's most important transportation corridors. In partnership with the City of Cathedral City and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the City of Palm Springs is advancing the Ramon Road Bridge Improvement Project over the Whitewater River. Improvements will extend along Ramon Road from San Luis Rey Drive to Landau Boulevard, creating a more efficient and accessible connection between Palm Springs and Cathedral City while supporting future growth and mobility throughout the region.

Finally, we hope you enjoy getting to know City of Palm Springs Director of Planning Services Christopher Hadwin in this edition’s “Employee Spotlight,” where he shares insights into his role, what excites him most about the future of Palm Springs, the initiatives currently shaping the city, and how the planning process helps bring that vision to life.

From wildfire prevention to recreation, planning, and community investment, Palm Springs continues to move forward with purpose this summer, building a safer, more connected, and more vibrant city for all.

With much gratitude,

Scott Stiles City Manager, Palm Springs

Nona Watson Chamber CEO

Dear readers,

Welcome to the summer issue of PSILOVEYOU, where our cover story explores a remarkable shift reshaping our community and energizing life and business for every single resident of our city.

Lately, a new generation — people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s — is discovering that Palm Springs offers far more than a weekend getaway or seasonal escape. They’re becoming fulltime, permanent residents who are planting roots, launching businesses, forming families, creating art, and investing in the future of our city.

Some first discovered the desert thanks to a world-renowned event like Coachella, or while on a family vacation or celebratory weekend with friends. Others grew up here, left to pursue education or careers elsewhere, and are now returning home with fresh perspectives and renewed appreciation for everything Palm Springs has become.

What they’re finding is a city that blends opportunity, culture, wellness, entrepreneurship, and community like nowhere else.

This growing wave of younger residents is contributing to a powerful rejuvenation across Palm Springs. From new bars and restaurants and innovative businesses to expanded arts, nightlife, and civic engagement, their influence is helping shape an exciting new chapter for our city while honoring the spirit and character that have always made Palm Springs unique.

At the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, we believe this momentum represents tremendous opportunity for growth. The energy is undeniable, and the future is bright. And with the new Palm Springs campus of College of the Desert firmly taking shape, this nouvelle vague is just beginning.

We are proud to share the stories of 11 people who are helping to redefine modern Palm Springs — and proud to call this extraordinary city home, as we all are.

As always, enjoy!

Nona Watson CEO, Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

Thank you to the following Chamber members without whom many of our programs would not be possible.

TO PALM SPRINGS’ NEW ERA A A T O

A YOUNGER GENERATION OF NEWCOMERS AND RETURNING RESIDENTS IS CHANGING THE FACE OF THE CITY, BRINGING FRESH ENERGY THAT’S REVITALIZING LIFE FOR EVERYONE.

They aren’t arriving with the expectation that Palm Springs should become Los Angeles or anywhere else entirely. They’re choosing it because of its character, individuality, creativity, and rhythm. They’re attracted by the personal and professional advantages we offer.

BY DANIEL VAILLANCOURT

Palm Springs has forever been seen as a sublime sanctuary — a dreamland fabricated of wellchilled cocktails, inviting swimming pools, midcentury modern architecture, starry nights, and endlessly sunny days. It’s where retirees retreat, snowbirds escaping winter flock, and visitors young and old come to disappear for a respite before returning to real life elsewhere.

Of course, a core group of permanent full-timers has always worked hard to support all the fun and glamour. But by and large — mainly due to the paucity of opportunities — locals coming of age have left for greener educational or professional pastures, never to return. But of late, there’s been a shift.

A fresh crop of people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s is reshaping the city in ways that feel less like reinvention and more like evolution. First-time residents are arriving — and prodigal sons and daughters are returning — all of them eager to build their best desert life here. They’re opening businesses, working remotely, or finding traditional employment, having realized the bonus is a fabulous lifestyle off-hours.

The result is a version of Palm Springs that feels increasingly grounded in everyday life rather than tourism alone. Service-oriented businesses spanning the rainbow in color, flavor, and texture are growing alongside our long-established hospitality and tourism economy. Season is booming in a marvelously new way. Even during summer months — once largely viewed as a time to recharge — a quiet momentum keeps accelerating.

“I think Palm Springs is entering a period where legacy and evolution are beginning to intersect,” says Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce Director of Programs and Creative Strategy Evan Gray, who oversees EMERGE Palm Springs, a Chamber initiative that began as a professional networking group but has morphed into an incubator of new ideas, not to mention a major builder of both friendship and mentorship. “Longtime community identity and emerging perspectives are finding ways to co-exist rather than compete. For many younger professionals, there’s a feeling that they can participate in shaping what’s next rather than simply stepping into something already finished.

“They aren’t arriving with the expectation that Palm Springs should become Los Angeles or anywhere else entirely. They’re choosing it because of its character, individuality, creativity, and rhythm. They’re attracted by the personal and professional advantages we offer.”

On the following pages, please meet 11 such individuals who are proudly part of this nouvelle vague

S T

Veterinarian Dr. Peyton Bree Aaronson

AARONSON.VET

A Palm Springs native and graduate of Palm Springs High School who’s set up a scholarship fund there for those she hopes will follow in her footsteps, Aaronson, 31, left the Coachella Valley in 2012 to attend UCLA before earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She then returned home to begin practicing small-animal veterinary medicine — under the mentorship of her friend and colleague Dr. Doug Kunz — in the community that lovingly raised her.

The daughter of a respiratory therapist mother and a late plastic surgeon father whose private practice became a fixture in town starting in the 1980s, Aaronson — who recently married sports-themed podcast and TV show producer Tucker Tashjian, 33 — currently serves as a relief veterinarian at a handful of animal hospitals throughout the valley and hopes to soon open her own practice here, continuing her family’s longstanding legacy of caring for their fellow citizens.

She credits the city’s strong sense of community and residents’ devotion to their pets as key reasons she chose to practice here after working in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and New York. Giving back to Palm Springs has always been central to her goals. “I believe in investing in the future of where you’re living,” she says. “I feel lucky I can give back to students at my alma mater.”

Serving on the board of directors of Greater Palm Springs Animal Allies, which helps support organizations such as the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and Desert Wildlife Center, Aaronson is very proud to be a vibrant part of the desert’s renewal.

“I go to Las Palmas to grab a beer with friends, Vetiver Salon to get my hair cut, Gabino’s to get lunch, The Heyday to get dinner, Sesar Orozco’s floral studio when I want someone to feel special,” she says. “All of these businesses are owned and operated by people from my generation who have connections to Palm Springs, like me, and care about this city and how it continues to flourish.”

I believe in investing in the future of where you’re living. I feel lucky I can give back to students at my alma mater.

Co-Owners of After Hours

Elevated Bar + Eats Jaime de la Torre, Pedro Jimenez, Fernando López & Michael Sandoval

AFTERHOURSPALMSPRINGS.COM

One of the desert’s newest and most exciting watering holes is the brainchild of four middle school pals making their joint dream come true.

“After Hours came from the idea of creating something Palm Springs didn’t fully have yet,” says López, 27. “An elevated cocktail bar that feels intimate, stylish, sexy, and experience-driven while still being welcoming and energetic. The concept was inspired by late-night cocktail culture, Miami nightlife aesthetics, and our love for hospitality. The vibe is upscale but relaxed. Handcrafted cocktails, curated music, dim lighting, and a space designed to feel like an escape from the ordinary.”

Originally from Esquipulas, Guatemala, López moved to the desert with his family in 2014 at the age of 15. Native son de la Torre, 24, still helps run Felipe’s Palm Springs, founded by his family more than 10 years ago. Jimenez, 23, is a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, who arrived as a child and has spent most of his life here. Sandoval, 24, was born and raised in Cathedral City, and has fond memories of weekly family trips to Thursday’s VillageFest. Each man has unique talents and experiences he brings to the cocktail table.

“It all ended up aligning,” says Sandoval. “It’s almost as if the

The Palm Springs community is very loyal and supportive. Even during the slower summer months, regulars, friends, and families continue to support local businesses, and that really means a lot. I hope to see that same love at After Hours.

universe gave us each different skills to make it work. I personally have been working since I was 18. I had a successful clothing brand and would market and design everything myself. I learned a lot as a teen running a business, all the ups and downs. It gave me an opening into the creative world and branding, which bled into the creativity of After Hours.”

“We’ve always known our potential was high,” says de la Torre of the quartet. “The Palm Springs community is very loyal and supportive. I’ve seen it for years through Felipe’s. Even during the slower summer months, regulars, friends, and families continue to support local businesses, and that really means a lot. I hope to see that same love at After Hours.”

“I think it’s really exciting,” adds Jimenez, referring to the movement the men are leading. “More young people are moving here because they see the potential Palm Springs has, not just as a vacation spot but as a place to actually build a future. What I like is that people moving here still appreciate what makes Palm Springs special. It’s not about changing the city completely. It’s about bringing new energy and creativity. I’m proud that After Hours gets to be part of that shift.”

Owner of Bobo Palm Springs & Bobo Design Studio Angie Chua

Though Palm Springs had long been familiar territory — through work conferences, Coachella weekends, and visits to her cousin — the desert took on deeper meaning for Chua, 45, in 2015, when her husband proposed in Joshua Tree.

After having built an established life and business in the Bay Area, the couple was searching for something different — a slower pace, a stronger sense of community, a place where creativity could flourish outside the pressures of nonstop hustle culture.

When opportunities tugged them toward Southern California, Palm Springs offered an appealing alternative to Los Angeles’ fast-paced lifestyle. They relocated here from San Jose in February 2021. It’s a move Chua now calls “the absolute best decision.” Here she quickly recognized an opportunity to contribute to the city’s evolving identity.

Noting the absence of a traditional stationery store, Chua created Bobo Palm Springs, an Uptown Palm

Springs boutique specializing in journals, fountain pens, greeting cards, and art supplies sourced from Japan and independent women-of-color and queer artists. The shop, established in July 2021, hosts weekly journaling and sketchbook meetups.

“I also founded Bobo Design Studio,” she says, “my stationery line designed to help people explore the world in an analog way.”

Chua is honored to be part of a group bringing novel energy to the desert. “I think you’ll be pretty hardpressed to find a place that is perfect in this world in terms of people, arts and culture, scenery, political views, good weather, charm, etc., but Palm Springs comes pretty darn close,” she says, adding she lives by the “be the change you want to see” ethos. “As an Asian American woman in a town where there are only a handful of us, I think it’s important to create spaces that are inclusive and welcome people from all walks of life.”

As an Asian American woman in a town where there are only a handful of us, I think it’s important to create spaces that are inclusive and welcome people from all walks of life.

Nurse Informaticist

Jasmine Lau, MSN, RN, CNOR

Eisenhower Health

Palm Springs began as just a momentary stop for Lau, 30, who from 2023 to 2024 settled in Rancho Mirage to fulfill a temporary travel nurse assignment at Eisenhower Health. That gig introduced her to the desert lifestyle, then unexpectedly changed the course of her life.

Originally from Foxboro, Massachusetts, back then, Lau spent all her free time exploring downtown Palm Springs, hiking the area’s scenic trails, and meeting fun people. By July 2025, she’d returned permanently after accepting a full-time position as a nurse informaticist with her former employer.

“I was already familiar with the area and did not hesitate to come back,” says Lau, who’d kept in touch with the pals she’d made, which in turn made her even more excited to become a bona fide Palm Springs resident. “The friendships I’d made were initially formed at work, and grew beyond the work environment. We often go to community events and participate in local activities such as extricating ourselves from locked spaces during escape room games.”

Lau says the desert is attracting more young professionals because it offers something that’s becoming increasingly hard to find elsewhere: career opportunity combined with an active lifestyle and sense of community. She finds it exciting to see more people her age choosing to put down roots here and contribute to the area’s future. Not to mention that the desert’s supreme natural beauty makes her feel like she’s perennially on vacation. “Except I get to live here!”

I was already familiar with the area and did not hesitate to come back... The friendships I’d made were initially formed at work, and grew beyond the work environment.

Photo by David A. Lee

Software Engineer Stu Larsen & Entrepreneur Joseph Young

For me, I think the quality of life improvements come from the ability to buy property and put down roots in a place I was interested in moving to later in life anyway.

Larsen, a 38-year-old software engineer, and Young, 40, an entrepreneur who co-owns Tavern Tales Events — which hosts community-oriented happenings that aim to lower barriers of entry for games like Dungeons & Dragons — have been together since summer 2023.

They’d individually discovered Palm Springs’ multiple charms pre-pandemic, and by 2024, were visiting together with far greater regularity. The more they were exposed to the desert and its people, the more they felt they should make this “home away from home” their permanent, fulltime residence, which they did last February. Working remotely gave Larsen a flexibility shared by Young in choosing where to live, and Palm Springs stood out as an attractive option. “Joseph and I spent over a year visiting friends around the U.S. with a mission,” says Larsen. “Could we live here?”

Ends up the solution was right under their noses. This city offered everything the pair was looking

for: affordability compared to coastal Southern California, proximity to friends in San Diego, and a welcoming, engaged populace. The perfect weather, striking desert landscape, poolside social culture, and stunning mid mod architecture were sweet icing on the cake.

“One of the big factors was the future of the area and the investment of our time and money,” Young says. “As was the fact that many of our similarly aged friends had arrived a year or two before us. Seeing that the valley was growing helped us make the leap.”

Contemplations of keeping a seaside pied à terre came but quickly went, with Young easily commuting to the big city now and then when business matters call.

“For me, I think the quality of life improvements come from the ability to buy property and put down roots in a place I was interested in moving to later in life anyway,” concludes Larsen. “Now it feels like we’re just getting a head start!”

Floral Designer Sesar Orozco

sesarorozco.com

What’s happening here now feels deeply personal to Orozco. Born and raised between Palm Springs and Cathedral City, the 32-year-old grew up during a time when the area was quieter, more seasonal, and far less culturally diverse than it is today. He remembers a close-knit community shaped largely by local families, retirees, and the rhythms of the tourism season, when summers often transformed the valley into what he describes as a “ghost town.”

Orozco’s family operated Mexican restaurant La Palapa in Cathedral City for nearly three decades, an experience that taught him the realities of entrepreneurship, hospitality, and community-building from an early age. Those lessons eventually inspired him to pursue his own creative path. During the pandemic, he launched HERMANO, a small floral business operated from his home studio.

It’s

wonderful that we’re attracting other people to move here and create with us. Nothing holds community together more than community itself, and Palm Springs has it stronger than ever.

Over time, that venture has evolved into his current brand, Sesar Orozco Floral Event Studio, which is focused on weddings and private parties. He also provides grateful customers with luxury single-flower arrangements. “I’m the florist in the back,” he says of his location within downtown Palm Springs’ newly renovated Le Petit Passage, a growing collective of local makers, vintage retailers, and creative businesses. “It’s truly a magical building.”

Orozco is especially excited to be part of this new wave alongside many childhood friends who went off to college only to return and become desert movers and shakers. “We were just kids and now we’ve all grown up and want a cooler place to live and hang out,” he says. “It’s wonderful that we’re attracting other people to move here and create with us. Nothing holds community together more than community itself, and Palm Springs has it stronger than ever.”

David A. Lee

by

Photo

Festival Theaters General Manager & Programmer Zachary Solomon festivaltheaters.com

For Palm Springs native Solomon, the move back to his hometown was an intentional decision to heal while helping to shape the city’s cultural future.

Having most recently lived in Brooklyn, the 34-yearold returned in November 2025 to helm Festival Theaters after working with the Palm Springs Cultural Center and Palm Springs International Film Society from 2016 to 2023.

In his current role at a venue he considers “vital,” Solomon hopes to create the kind of independent arthouse cinema experience he once wished existed while growing up in the desert — a space inspired by beloved similar venues in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Boston that feel communal, culturally relevant, and welcoming to younger and queer audiences alike.

“Palm Springs has an incredible audience of retirees and longtime residents — especially within the gay community — who genuinely love movies and have great taste, and I’m confident they’ll continue supporting the theater as long as I keep programming it thoughtfully. But I’m equally interested in building something that reaches younger audiences across the valley, including people on the east end who don’t want to simply settle for the standard multiplex experience at Regal or Cinemark.”

But Solomon’s homecoming was far from selfless.

“New York was killing me,” he reveals, adding he’d not want to live there again unless he made more than $200,000 a year. “My parasympathetic nervous system honestly relies on the desert — on how connected I feel to the topography and to the people here. I have a little bit of family left, but I have a community and chosen family here that hold me up and make me feel safe.”

Solomon feels privileged to stand shoulder to shoulder with peers doing such amazing things here. Just a handful he lists include Adrian Romero of Rosemary Hi-Fi, Katie Reed and Joseph Eccles of Desert Kid Coffee, and The Desert Sun health and entertainment reporter Ema Sasic.

He also wishes to single out Lili Rodriguez, a Coachella Valley High School alumna “who really embodies everything we’re talking about.” First toiling as a projectionist at the now-defunct Palme d’Or Theater, she went on to join the Palm Springs International Film Festival family as a programming intern, earned repeated promotions, and has risen to serving as the organization’s artistic director.

“Her story is such a perfect example of the kind of homegrown cultural leadership helping shape the future of the desert,” Solomon says, adding, “I love you all. Thank you for making my hometown cooler. I hope you enjoy and love the desert as much as I do.”

My parasympathetic nervous system honestly relies on the desert — on how connected I feel to the topography and to the people here. I have a little bit of family left, but I have a community and chosen family here that hold me up and make me feel safe.

Cool Off this Summer at the Swim Center

When the summer heat settles over the city, the Palm Springs Swim Center offers a refreshing escape for residents and visitors looking to cool off. The pool provides a welcoming spot to swim laps, relax in the water, or enjoy time with family in a safe, well-maintained setting. With shaded areas and open swim hours, it’s a simple way to beat the desert temperatures while staying active and connected to the community.

Standard Drop-In Public

HoursMonday – Thursday 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.*

Friday – Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Adult Water Polo

Saturday

12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

(All abilities welcome)

Aqua Boot Camp

Monday and Wednesday 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.

CLASSES

Join Water Aerobics with Donna

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Palm Springs Swim Club – Masters

The Palm Springs Swim Club Masters Team is a vibrant adult swim community based at the iconic Palm Springs Swim Center. Open to all adults — whether you’re a competitive swimmer, triathlete, fitness enthusiast, or just returning to the water — our program offers high-quality training in a supportive, inclusive, fun environment.Ages 18 yrs but less than 150 yrs.

Monday – Thursday 5:30 to 7:00 a.m.

Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Friday 6:00 to 7:30 a.m.

Dive-In Movies

These return in August and September. Enjoy films under the stars while floating in the pool at the Palm Springs Swim Center. Please visit palmspringsca.gov/recreation for hours and films.

Daily Admission Palm Springs

Residents

Adult (13 & over) $6/swim

Youth (4 - 12) free

Cost-Saving Pool Pass

Scan card for 25 swims (ages 13 & up) $85 Family (up to 6 people) $30 per visit

Daily Admission Non-Residents

Annual membership $109

Adult (13 & over) $10

Youth (4 - 12) free

Cost-Saving Pool Pass

Scan card for 25 swims (ages 13 & up) $100 Family (up to 6 people) $40 per visit

For more information about daily rates, please visit palmspringsca.gov/recreation or call 760.323.8278.

Location

Sunrise Park at 405 South Pavilion Way

Join the Palm Springs Swim Center’s email list at swim@palmspringsca.gov

22 New Pickleball Courts Coming Soon at Demuth Park

Palm Springs is continuing to invest in recreational opportunities, with major progress underway on the Demuth Park Pickleball Expansion Project, a transformative addition for one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

The ambitious $5.1 million project will dramatically expand and modernize pickleball facilities at Demuth Park, creating a premier destination for players of all ages and skill levels. Funded in part through Measure J, the project reflects the city’s commitment to enhancing parks and recreational amenities for the community.

Construction plans involve demolition of the existing pickleball courts, tennis court, picnic areas, and portions of the surrounding park space to make way for a completely reimagined complex featuring 22 new pickleball courts.

The upgraded facility will also include seating areas, planters, drinking fountains, sports lighting, shade structures, drainage retention improvements, and upgraded electrical service infrastructure.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held September 25, 2025, with construction officially beginning the following month. Since then, crews have been working steadily toward the project's completion in early fall.

“This project represents a major investment in recreational opportunities for our residents and visitors,” says City of Palm Springs Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation Nicholas Gonzalez. “The new Demuth Park pickleball complex will provide high-quality courts and amenities that support the growing popularity of the sport while creating a welcoming gathering space for the entire community.”

Once completed, the new courts are expected to significantly increase availability and improve the overall playing experience for both casual and competitive players. The addition of shaded gathering spaces and upgraded amenities will also create a more comfortable and welcoming environment for spectators and families.

Pickleball’s popularity continues to surge nationwide, and Palm Springs has emerged as a strong destination for the sport. The expanded Demuth Park complex is expected to support local recreation, tournaments, and community events while further strengthening the city’s active lifestyle offerings.

The project is another example of the city's long-term investment in quality public spaces that bring residents together and encourage healthy, outdoor activity year-round. With completion targeted for summer 2026, anticipation is already building for what promises to become one of the region’s premier pickleball venues.

Ready for Summer Fun Splash Pad Reopening

Summer in Palm Springs  will be a whole lot cooler!

The city of Palm Springs has officially completed the renovation of the Downtown Park splash pad, just in time for families to enjoy the warmer months ahead.

The revitalized splash pad represents a significant investment in one of the city’s most popular familyfriendly amenities. The approximately $560,000 renovation includes comprehensive upgrades to the existing spray ground system, with improvements to mechanical, electrical, plumbing and control systems to ensure a reliable and long-lasting experience for everyone to enjoy.

Palm Springs Strengthens Wildfire Defense With Successful Third Year of Citywide Mitigation Program

With wildfire threats growing more intense across California each year, the Palm Springs Fire Department is proving that preparation remains the city’s strongest line of defense. Under the leadership of Fire Chief Paul Alvarado, Palm Springs has successfully completed the third year of its annual wildfire mitigation and brush removal program, a proactive initiative that cleared more than 100 acres of hazardous vegetation across the city before the height of summer fire season. The effort reflects an aggressive approach to wildfire prevention that is helping protect neighborhoods, preserve property, and reduce risks for first responders and residents alike.

This year’s operation focused on clearing hazardous vegetation across 101 acres of city-owned vacant land throughout Palm Springs, reducing fuel loads ahead of the

desert’s peak summer heat. Fire crews trimmed trees, removed dense brush, and targeted areas considered vulnerable to fast-moving wildfires near residential neighborhoods and open desert terrain.

The annual mitigation effort has become a key component of the city’s long-term wildfire preparedness strategy as climate conditions across California continue to intensify fire risks.

“Wildfire mitigation is one of the most important investments we can make in protecting our community,” says Alvarado. “This program has grown stronger each year, and its success is the result of proactive planning, dedicated crews, and a community that understands the importance of fire prevention.”

The initiative also included a public outreach campaign encouraging residents in wildfire-

prone areas to maintain defensible space around their homes by clearing dry vegetation and reducing combustible materials near structures.

The program reflects a broader shift toward yearround wildfire readiness rather than seasonal emergency response alone. By addressing hazardous vegetation before fire conditions worsen, the department aims to reduce the likelihood of destructive fires and improve safety for residents, visitors, and first responders.

The program officially kicked off earlier this year, on May 5, at the Palm Springs Visitor Information Center, where crews began a citywide effort that concluded successfully on July 1.

Additional information about wildfire preparedness and community safety programs is available at EngagePalmSprings.com.

“The Downtown Park splash pad is a special place for families in our community, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back to enjoy this newly renovated space,” says City of Palm Springs Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation Nicholas Gonzalez. “These improvements ensure the splash pad will remain safe, dependable, and enjoyable for years to come while continuing to serve as a centerpiece for outdoor recreation downtown.”

The project reflects the city’s continued commitment to maintaining the Downtown

Park as a safe, vibrant, and welcoming public gathering space. From local families looking for a refreshing afternoon outing to visitors exploring downtown Palm Springs, the upgraded splash pad is expected to once again become a favorite community destination.

As temperatures rise, the reopening comes at the perfect time for children and families eager to cool off outdoors while enjoying the heart of downtown Palm Springs. So, grab your swimsuits, sunscreen, and splash-ready smiles and come celebrate the start of summer fun at the splash pad!

Tell us about your background and what brought you to Palm Springs.

I’ve spent more than 20 years working in urban planning across both the public and private sectors. In Canada, I worked for the Province of Ontario helping local municipalities plan for housing, economic growth, and environmental stewardship, and later worked with Indigenous communities on land use matters. In New York City, I served as Staten Island Borough Director for the Department of City Planning, where I helped advance a $300 million revitalization effort focused on housing, jobs, transit, and waterfront access.

I moved to Palm Springs in 2022 because this is a community unlike anywhere else. We have near-perfect weather, abundant natural beauty, an incredibly welcoming and inclusive community, and a thriving arts and culture scene. I love being a part of this community, and my goal as planning director is to help the city grow thoughtfully, supporting housing, jobs, and investment while preserving all those things that make Palm Springs special.

What does the Planning Department do?

We help shape the future of Palm Springs: reviewing development proposals, overseeing zoning and permitting, protecting historic resources, and advancing long-range planning efforts. A big part of our job is balancing competing priorities, like encouraging investment and new housing while also preserving neighborhoods, architectural heritage, and quality of life.

The department supports three decision-making bodies: The Architectural Review Committee, the Historic Site Preservation Board, and the

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT City of Palm Springs Director of Planning Services Christopher Hadwin

Planning Commission, all of which meet regularly and welcome community participation to shape development throughout the city. Our motto is ‘The People Are the City,’ and I really believe that is embodied in the conversations that happen with our community at these meetings.

For residents or business owners unfamiliar with the process, how does the planning process work?

Depending on the project, approvals can range from a simple over-the-counter permit to a public hearing before the Planning Commission or City Council. We understand the process can feel overwhelming, so one of our priorities has been making it more transparent and customer-friendly.

We encourage anyone needing planning approval to meet with staff early so we can identify issues upfront and help projects move more efficiently. Our goal is to be collaborative problem-solvers while ensuring projects meet the city’s standards. Our online portal — Palm Springs ONLINE — is a good starting point for applications and status tracking.

What’s your best advice for someone starting a project here?

Come talk to us early — before you finalize your design, before you hire your architect, if possible. Understanding the zoning, design guidelines, and any historic considerations upfront can dramatically simplify things later. And be a genuine partner with your neighbors. Projects that incorporate community feedback move more smoothly and end up as better designs. Palm Springs residents care deeply about their city, and that’s actually an asset for anyone building something lasting here.

Palm Springs is internationally known for its architecture and historic neighborhoods. Why is historic preservation so important here?

Our architecture and neighborhoods are core to the city’s identity and economy. People come from around the world because of our unique design legacy — architects like Albert Frey, Richard Neutra, E. Stewart Williams, and William F. Cody did some of their most important work here.

Preservation isn’t about freezing the city in time; it’s about respecting what makes Palm Springs distinctive while allowing thoughtful evolution. When preservation and smart growth work together, you get results like the Tramway gas station becoming our visitor center, or the Santa Fe Federal building becoming the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center.

What are some of the major planning initiatives happening right now?

One of the most significant is the Tramview Heights Specific Plan for northern Palm Springs. This is an area that has historically lacked neighborhood-serving amenities. Residents have consistently told us they want grocery stores, restaurants, more housing options, and safer connections for people on foot and bikes. The plan has been shaped directly by the community through many public open houses and mobile workshops, and will soon be considered by the City Council.

We are also continuing to see strong interest in new hotel development, industrial and employment-generating projects, and reinvestment throughout the city. The Dream Hotel near the Convention Center, and the

Orchid Tree downtown, are both back in active focus with updated timelines and stronger accountability measures. Industrial development north of I-10 is moving closer to reality and bringing hundreds of new, permanent jobs to the city. Our role is to ensure all these projects contribute positively to Palm Springs while supporting the local economy and tax base. Looking ahead, what excites you most about Palm Springs’ future?

Palm Springs is at a really exciting moment. We have an opportunity to address housing needs, strengthen local businesses, improve neighborhoods, and continue investing in public spaces and infrastructure while still maintaining the character that people love.

What excites me most is the engagement we have with our Palm Springs community. Residents genuinely care about the future of Palm Springs, and that level of civic involvement

Ramon Road Bridge Construction to Begin This Fall

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS UNDERWAY

The city of Palm Springs, in partnership with the city of Cathedral City and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, has announced that construction on the Ramon Road Bridge Project over the Whitewater River is officially scheduled to begin this fall.

The highly anticipated two-year infrastructure project will significantly improve traffic flow, increase public safety, and enhance connectivity along one of the Coachella Valley’s busiest transportation corridors. The current bridge, originally constructed decades ago, no longer meets modern seismic standards and experiences heavy congestion during peak travel hours.

Serving more than 40,000 vehicles daily, Ramon Road is a critical east-west corridor connecting residents, businesses, visitors, and travelers to key destinations that include Palm Springs International Airport. The project area spans from San Luis Rey Drive to Candlewood Drive and serves as the gateway between the cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City.

To prepare the community ahead of construction, project outreach and engagement efforts began in early June. Outreach staff are visiting businesses along the Ramon Road corridor to distribute project fact sheets, business cards, and information about how businesses can participate in the project’s “Business is Open During Construction” campaign.

In addition to business outreach, the project team will meet with homeowners associations, neighborhood groups, civic and business organizations, tourism and hospitality groups, and other community partners throughout the summer to share project information and answer questions.

Community meetings, including two in-person meetings and one virtual meeting, are planned for the fall prior to the start of construction. The meetings will provide updates on the project

timeline, anticipated traffic impacts, construction phasing, safety information, and opportunities for public feedback.

The Ramon Road Bridge Project will deliver several improvements and benefits to the community, including:

Eliminating the Bottleneck:

• Widens the existing bridge from four lanes to six lanes

• Shortens wait times with new dedicated turn lanes

Increasing Public Safety:

• Seismic retrofitting to withstand major earthquake activity

• Flood resilience to enhance stability during storms

Enhancing Connectivity:

• New sidewalk and protected bicycle lanes

• Connection to CV Link and other trails across the wash

The project will also repave and restripe

is something special that truly makes us like no place else to live, work, and play!

To stay connected with the Planning Department and projects underway, visit EngagePalmSprings.com, attend a public meeting, or reach the team via email at planning@palmspringsca.gov.

the roadway and add new drainage, curbs, gutters, driveways, landscaping, and special architectural features on the bridge railing to emphasize the gateway aspect between cities.

To minimize the impact on commuters, the project will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction, optimize signal timing, and keep business driveways accessible during construction. The cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City are committed to minimizing disruptions throughout construction and engaging with the community throughout every phase of the project.

The Ramon Road Bridge Project is anticipated to be complete in December 2028.

Community members and businesses are encouraged to sign up for project updates, construction alerts, and engagement opportunities by visiting the project website at ramonroadbridgeproject.com.

For questions or outreach requests, please contact the project hotline at 760.933.9944 or email info@ramonroadbridgeproject.com.

PS Chamber

New Members

A Neighbors’ Care Senior Advocacy & Services

Serving the Coachella Valley Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760)668-3236 www.a-neighbors-care.com

Be Kekoa

Serving the Coachella Valley Palm Springs, CA 92262 (951)219-9492 www.bekekoa.com

Beesmart Bee Removal 43780 Skyward Way La Quinta, CA 92253 (951)216-5621 www.beesmartbeeremoval.com

Desert Swag

500 S. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760)841-1869 www.desertswagspa.com

Design Materials 1260 Lincoln Avenue, Ste. 1000 Pasadena, CA 91103 (626)674-3760 www.dmfloors.com

Emerge Home Services

314 N Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760)800-0702 www.emergehomeservices.com

Eventi Productions

67782 E. Palm Canyon Drive Ste. B104-188 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (415)516-9154 www.eventiproductions.com

GHA Enterprises, Inc dba

GHA Companies 30875 Date Palm Drive, Ste. C2 Palm Springs, CA 92234 (760)969-1400 www.ghacompanies.com

Inner Center

Psychological Corporation 1276 Palm Canyon Drive, Ste. 109 Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760)403-0571 www.innercenter.net

KNM Properties, Inc. 179 2nd Street Napa, CA 9455 (707)346-7679

Kord Fire Protection 3729 Cahuenga Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 (800)918-8978 www.kordfire.com

Marrakesh Country Club

47-000 Marrakesh Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 (760)568-2688 www.marrakeshcountryclub. com

Minuteman Press

950 S. Vella Road Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760)969-5500 www.minuteman.com

Modern Joy Studio

272 N. Center Street Orange, CA 92866 (951)283-2002 www.anagaydon.com

Mountain Rose Herbs PO Box 50220 Eugene, OR 97402 (800)879-3337

www.mountainroseherbs.com

Paul’s Air Conditioning & Heating

1253 N. Valdivia Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760)323-4776 www.paulsac.com

Ramp Charging, LLC 4845 Pearl East Circle Boulder, CO 80301 (607)351-7905 www.rampcharging.com

Seniors Helping Seniors 1020 E Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92264 (760)231-5044Unit 102 www.locations. seniorshelpingseniors.com

Solera Travel 3611 1st N.E #92 Auburn, WA 98002 (253)297-7613 www.soleratravel.com

Teamsters Local 1932 433 N. Sierra Way San Bernardino, CA 92410 (909)889-8377 www.teamsters1932.org

Renae Punzalan LGBTQ+ Youth Drop-In Center 760-464-0223 www.trans.heath

Starlight Boutique Hotel 3569 Calmada Road Pioneertown, CA 92268 (760)228-3141

info@starlightboutiquehotel. com

Sea Mountain 21 Spa Lifestyles Resort Desert Hot Springs / Palm Springs, California (760)251-4744 info@seamountaininn.com

Browne Insurance Services 190 W Amado Road Palm Springs, CA 92262

Serving the Coachella Valley donnie@browneinsurance.com www.browneinsurance.com

Glazz Works 41945 Boardwalk Ste. F, Palm Desert, CA 92264 (760)206-4222 www.glazzcustomworks.com

Glazz Works creates custom glass solutions for residential and commercial properties, including shower enclosures, sliding doors, windows, and backsplashes. We combine expert craftsmanship, innovative design, and personalized service to bring your vision to life.

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