Cathedral City Receives a $1.4 Million Federal Grant to Build a Downtown Park
Park to include outdoor amphitheater for cultural events and festivals
Cathedral City is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $1.4 million grant by the National Park Service through its Land and Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF) to help build a new downtown park for cultural events and festivals.
LWCF provides funding to cities, counties, eligible districts, and state agencies for acquisition and development projects to create outdoor recreational resources. Under provisions of state law, public resource code §5099.12, the program is administered by the State Parks Director.
Once completed in late 2018, the new downtown park located at the corner of Avenida Lalo Guerrero and Cathedral Canyon Drive will feature an outdoor amphitheater for citywide cultural events, walking trails, children’s play area, shade trellis, restroom and concession facilities, landscape, lighting and fencing.
“The new park and the adjacent Festival Lawn along East Palm Canyon Drive will serve as an important anchor to creating an entertainment district in our downtown,” stated Mayor Stan Henry. “Having an outdoor amphitheater will allow the City to attract additional festivals, offer greater amenities for our three signature events, and provide a venue for smaller theatrical events like Shakespeare in the Park by our local high school students.”
The $1.4 million LWCF grant requires matching funds to be used in order to build the park. Cathedral City has already set aside those funds and will begin the design phase of a $2.8 million park soon. Construction on the new park will begin in six to eight months and should be open for events in late fall 2018.
The City Council’s plans to develop the downtown corridor along East Palm Canyon Drive into an entertainment district continues to gain momentum with the renovation of the Mary Pickford Theatre, the announcement of the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CV Rep) plans to renovate the Desert Cinema into a performing arts theater, and today’s announcement of the downtown park.
“The City plans to announce additional major developments along the downtown corridor soon that are currently being negotiated,” stated City Manager Charles McClendon. “It is our belief that Downtown Cathedral City will become an entertainment destination point to shop, dine, stay and play for our residents and tourists alike.”
