A plan exists to help address issues with a downtown parking garage. Will it ever be implemented? ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

Some sections of a downtown parking garage that has seen its share of safety issues are dark even in the daytime.

Thanks to the eight-week effort of a four-person team that included residents, police, and city staff, Palm Springs leaders have some options for dealing with a troublesome downtown structure. Whether they implement any of the group’s suggestions is still to be decided.

At issue is the fact the garage, located at 275 South Indian Canyon Dr., is adjacent to or within walking distance of the city’s densest concentration of bars. Patrons of those bars who may have parked in the garage often spill out onto the streets after closing and engage in “spontaneous criminal activity” as they return to their vehicles.

“We have a ‘perfect storm,’ unique to this location,” the report’s authors wrote. “The confluence of beverage alcohol consumption opportunities and a single large parking area to service them sets up an opportunity for conflict and crime on the city streets and inside.”

The report – compiled by Ned Barker from the Baristo Neighborhood Organization, PSPD officers Chad Brown and Luciano Colantuono, and Sarah Yoon from the city’s planning department – doesn’t just outline the need for increased safety measures in the parking structure. It also recommends a strategy to address safety concerns, focusing on principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

It was authored in the Spring of 2023 as part of a training exercise for the SafeGrowth program that saw four similar reports produced in the city. The comprehensive approach to urban planning and community safety integrates safety and livability strategies directly into neighborhood design and management.

SafeGrowth emphasizes community engagement and collaboration in urban planning and safety. By involving community members in the safety design process, it is hoped that the solutions will be culturally appropriate and widely supported.

The 18-page report outlines a detailed plan to enhance safety and hospitality at the parking structure, a known hot spot for late-night incidents of violence and crime. The plan applies CPTED principles to improve the garage’s functionality and safety.

It also notes that inadequate lighting, insufficient security measures, and poor maintenance are key factors contributing to crime and a general feeling of unease at the three-story, 124,000-square-foot garage.

Recommended strategies include better lighting and enhanced signage. Designating secure parking areas for downtown employees was also suggested, as was installing access control, increasing visibility in possible “entrapment areas,” and creating a more welcoming perception of the parking experience.

It’s a short trek from the parking garage to nearby bars. That has proven both beneficial and problematic.

One of the most innovative aspects of the plan involves engaging the community through design. The proposal suggests introducing artistic elements like murals and possibly background music to create a more inviting atmosphere.

The report concluded by outlining how the effectiveness of these strategies could be measured, including tracking crime and emergency call rates, operational efficiency, and user satisfaction.

If the report’s suggestions are eventually implemented, its authors believe they would significantly reduce crime and improve the perception of safety within the garage.

“By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of safety and user experience, we’re proposing a holistic approach to revitalizing the Downtown Parking Structure,” the report states.

While police and city officials who attended a presentation last June reacted positively to the report, no specific changes to the garage have been implemented.

Barker was on hand to present highlights of the garage report during a recent meeting of the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS), where all five reports were discussed. He said he hopes the discussion spurs action but is realistic about the amount of work still required to make changes.

“A lot of this requires a lot more research than we were capable of at that time,” he said in an email in late June.

“The ONE-PS Board agreed to create a committee that could advise on SafeGrowth projects initiated by neighborhoods and then act as a liaison to the city in this regard,” Barker wrote. “I’m hopeful that the city, or one of the city’s departments, will step up to create this liaison on the city’s behalf.”