Measure J Commission approves $2M for pickleball complex amid process concern; City Council gets final say
The $6 million overall project would expand the existing 12 pickleball courts at Demuth Park to 24 courts. It would also see new lighting, sidewalks, shade structures, and trees added to the facility.
The Palm Springs Measure J Oversight Commission voted Wednesday to allocate $2 million in funding for a planned pickleball complex at Demuth Park, despite some commissioners’ concerns about the rushed approval process.
The commission unanimously approved the funding request, which will come from the Measure J fund balance. An additional $2.5 million is expected to come from Quimby funds —monies collected from developers for park improvements under the California Quimby Act — pending City Council approval next week.
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“This isn’t just building a facility, this is an extremely engaged group and it really is about building community,” said Michael Madsen of Kimley-Horn, the project’s design consultant.
The $6 million project would expand the existing 12 pickleball courts at Demuth Park to 24 courts, including one tournament/ADA-accessible court. It would also see new lighting, sidewalks, shade structures, and trees added to the facility.
However, some commissioners expressed reservations about the expedited timeline, with the project scheduled to go before the Palm Springs City Council next week.
“My concerns are more about process, not about the project,” said Commissioner Larry Isaak. “It would be good to have the time to see how projects like this measure up against other projects that will be coming in the application phase this fall.”
Isaak added: “All of my experience over 45 years working in government process is very important to people who volunteer to serve on boards and commissions. And I just feel the measure J commission is a bit rushed on this sort.”
Finance Director Kristopher Mooney clarified that $6 million remains set aside for community-initiated projects, with applications due Sept. 30.
“We have a bucket of $6 million,” Mooney said. “Actually, the bucket is about $7.2 million total for community initiated projects,” Mooney said. “The previous commission had approved a bucket of $6 million of funds for community initiated projects, and the remaining $1.2 million would be used for any overages.”
Some commissioners also raised concerns about potential parking and noise impacts on nearby residents and the adjacent animal shelter.
Madsen acknowledged noise concerns, noting: “There are a lot of different things we could do to look at the types of fencing, the types of windscreens there, products called acoustic fence. There’s lots of different things we can do.”
The project would remove 12 existing trees but proposes planting 42 new trees.
If approved by the city council, the project could go out to bid in early 2025 with an estimated 9-month construction timeline.
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