Community weighs in on Desert Highland playground designs

Palm Springs Parks and Recreation officials presented two design options last week for an $800,000 playground renovation at Desert Highland Park that will combine existing play areas into one larger structure and serve as the city’s first testing site for new solar lighting technology.

The project will merge the current separate playgrounds for ages 2-5 and 5-12 into a single themed play area that celebrates Palm Springs landmarks and culture. Parks and Recreation Director Nick Gonzalez said the renovation will expand the playground footprint while incorporating rubberized surfacing and comprehensive shade structures throughout the facility.

“We really want to make an impact here, and we want this to be a destination playground where everybody from the community wants to come here and enjoy this park and this amenity,” Gonzalez said during a community meeting on Aug. 26.

Two design concepts from Innovative Playgrounds feature Palm Springs-specific elements including aerial tramway panels, custom palm tree post toppers, windmill interactive features, and desert animal spinner games. Option one accommodates 176 children, while option two includes a 10-foot tower representing the aerial tramway and holds 201 children.

Both designs emphasize accessibility with features like 360-degree loop climbers that allow children in wheelchairs to transfer onto the equipment, communication boards for non-verbal children, and ramps providing direct access to play structures.

Desert Highland Park will serve as the pilot location for new playground lighting technology that uses solar power to illuminate play areas without requiring additional electrical conduit work.

“We want to create all of that here first” before expanding the lighting system to other city playgrounds, Gonzalez said.

The project requires approval from the Parks and Recreation Commission in September and City Council in October to meet a November grant deadline. Construction is scheduled to begin in January, with the current 2-5 playground remaining operational during part of the construction period before being demolished.

Community members at the meeting expressed preference for option two, which features the aerial tramway tower, but requested more neighborhood-specific elements. One resident asked for features that would symbolize the Desert Highland Gateway Estates neighborhood and the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Community Center specifically, rather than citywide attractions like VillageFest.

Residents also raised concerns about the demolition of the existing toddler playground and suggested keeping it operational until its useful life ends. Others requested additional climbing structures designed for older children aged 10-12, noting that teenagers often don’t engage with traditional playground equipment.

Parents questioned swing capacity and waiting times, asking whether additional swings could be added to reduce crowding. One resident shared safety concerns about playground maintenance after experiencing broken equipment at another city park.

City officials addressed community questions about future water play features, noting that splash pads now cost between $1 million and $2 million due to recent California health code changes requiring extensive underground infrastructure. The Parks Department is conducting a master plan analysis for water play throughout the entire park system.

“We are also doing an analysis really kind of like a master plan for water play that we will be rolling out soon, so that we look at all the entire park and rec system,” Gonzalez said.

The demolished playground area will be graded and furnished with picnic benches until future funding becomes available for additional amenities such as splash pads or climbing structures specifically designed for older children.

Community members can provide additional feedback at a Desert Highland neighborhood meeting on Sept. 9 before the Parks Commission considers the project on Sept. 29.

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