April 17 Daily Briefing: Addressing city parks, COD leadership finalists, new art installed, and more

Welcome to Thursday, folks. When you think of Palm Springs, you don’t necessarily think of mosquitoes, but one pest control company put in on the map as a top 20 destination for the pesky insects. Despite its arid desert setting, the city ranks an unexpected 17th on Terminix’s list of America’s most mosquito-infested cities, according to a press release sent this week (which is also Mosquito Awareness Week, apparently). Also somewhat surprisingly, California ranked second in states with the highest mosquito populations, and Los Angeles nabbed the top spot among cities. We all better brush up on these prevention techniques.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Blame Brett” by The Beaches

LEADING OFF

Grassroots group kicks off push for park improvements with walking tour

A grassroots organization called People for Palm Springs Parks met with city officials Wednesday at Sunrise Park to advocate for better maintenance and safety while identifying issues that need addressing in local parks.

Driving the news: The group, formed in September 2023, is focusing on immediate concerns like cleanliness, bathroom accessibility, and outdated playground equipment while pushing for increased funding for park improvements.

• They organized a walk-through attended by Parks and Recreation Director Nick Gonzalez and other city staff to highlight problems directly.

Why it matters: Many Palm Springs parks have remained largely unchanged since the 1980s, with some losing amenities over time rather than seeing improvements.

• “The parks have looked the same for 30 years now,” said Kelly McLean, one of the group’s founding members.

By the numbers: The group consists of four board members – McLean, Jana FitzGerald, Katherine Hatch, and David Feltman – who,  with encouragement from attendees of Wednesday’s event, will try to meet at different city parks monthly.

Between the lines: Group members cited changing demographics in Palm Springs as a reason for updating park amenities, noting an increase in families living in the area.

• “When I was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, there weren’t a lot of families here. And that’s really changed,” FitzGerald said.

What’s next: The group plans to continue advocating for improvements and hopes to present their concerns to the Palm Springs City Council in time for budget considerations.

• They also aim to support Gonzalez in hopes of addressing basic needs including “cleanliness, security, usability, safety, and water.”

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🎓 Four finalists advance in search for COD’s next leader

College of the Desert has narrowed its search for a new superintendent and president to four semi-finalists following a nationwide recruitment process that attracted 73 qualified applicants. The candidates will participate in a public forum early next month at the Palm Desert Campus.

• The four advancing semi-finalists are Dr. Monica Chahal from Clovis Community College, Dr. Kimberlee S. Messina from Spokane Falls Community College, Dr. Don Moya-Miller from Rio Hondo College, and Val Martinez Garcia who is currently serving in the role on an acting basis.
  
• Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Joel Kinnamon noted the search had produced “an exceptional group of candidates, each demonstrating a strong commitment to student success, community engagement, and academic excellence. 
  
• Next steps: A public forum will be held at the Pollock Theatre and live-streamed via YouTube on May 1 at a time to be announced later. Community members can submit questions for candidates here. The board will conduct final interviews on May 2.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Nonesuch Nonfiction Book Club
2 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Members of the book club will discuss this month’s pick: “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams” by Matthew Walker. Next month they’ll tackle “Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen. Find out how to join the book club here.

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. 

Measure J Oversight Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
At this month’s meeting, commissioners will discuss projects for funding that were tabled at the last meeting. 

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
Weather permitting, the street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food until 10 p.m.

Roper Romp
6 p.m. | Tonga Hut
Celebrate Mrs. Roper from “Three’s Company” with prizes for the best-dressed Mrs. Roper (dig out your best rainbow-colored caftan) and Three’s Company Drink Specials!

Comedy Night
7 p.m. | Lush
Enjoy a lineup of local comedians and out-of-town talent. Bring cash for the drag show that follows. ($7-$10)

“The Shark is Broken”
7 p.m. | Revolution Stage Company
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jaws, Revolution Stage Company is staging the darkly comedic and deeply insightful play offers a behind-the-scenes look at the troubled production of the film that defined the summer blockbuster. ($29-$53)

View all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• “Falsettos” at Dezart Performs starting Friday. ($53)
  
• “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at Palm Canyon Theatre starting Friday. ($32)
  
• “Egg-cellent” Duck Dive at the Swim Center on Saturday.
  
• Palm Springs Fire Foundation Easter Egg Hunt at Ruth Hardy Park on Saturday.
  
• Self-Advocacy in Healthcare Conference at the Mizell Center on Saturday.
  
• PS Gay Men’s Chorus “Disney Pride In Concert“ starting April 24. ($35)
  
• Earth & Arbor Day Festival at Victoria Park on April 26.
  
• Forging Forward – Community Convening at the Cultural Center on April 29.
  
• “A Song For You” Carpenters Tribute at Agua Caliente Palm Springs on April 30. ($23)
  
• Retro Palm Springs – A Nostalgic Fan Convention at Palm Springs Convention Center on May 3-4. ($28)
  
• Desert Winds Freedom Band presents “Pop, Rock, and Swing” at Jewish Community Center on May 4. ($30)
  
• 2025 Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival starting May 8. ($17)
  
• Desert Images photography exhibition at Impell Gallery on May 10.

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

A new piece of art can now be seen “crawling” toward the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Driving the news: The 12-foot-tall sculpture, designed by local artist Ryan Campbell, was dedicated on by the city and the city’s Public Arts Commission on Tuesday.

Here’s why: Commissioners dedicated “Crawler” on that date to celebrate World Art Day, an annual tradition held on Leonardo DaVinci’s birthday.

Dive deeper: The piece features an iridescent black surface that reveals blue, green, and purple colors as viewers move around and through the piece.

What they’re saying: Campbell told the Outlook ValleySun magazine the sculpture wasn’t made with any meaning in mind, but once it took shape it started to look like something that would crawl around.

“Then it got me thinking in terms of how we have the ability to kind of crawl around our environment,” he said. “… I think a significant part of the name is that idea of getting down there and exploring your environment.”