Oct. 11 Daily Briefing: New ideas for an old park, waterline rupture, our pet of the week, and more

Welcome to Wednesday, where we hope you can make the joke Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Bernstein told Tuesday afternoon become reality. Speaking to members of the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS), Bernstein announced that he planned to leave the City Council this week — IF he won this evening’s roughly $1.75 billion Powerball jackpot drawing. We’re sure the gasps heard in the room as he perfectly timed the joke would be nothing compared to the shrieks you’d emit if you actually claim the prize. Good luck if you’ve got a ticket! 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Witchy Woman” by The Eagles

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LEADING OFF

Bold vision for future of city parks surfaces courtesy of local designer

A local graphic designer is sharing his ideas to celebrate a milestone moment for Sunrise Park and refresh recreational facilities throughout the city. This week, his thoughts will be reviewed by one of the most important audiences yet — the Palm Springs City Council.

Driving the news: Tom Dolle, creative director at Tom Dolle Design, has so far earned tentative support for his 57-page plan — dubbed “Golden Sunrise” — after showing it to architects, historians, and others in the city. 

• On Thursday, he hopes city councilmembers will also approve of what they see, possibly backing the formation of a committee that would solicit public input to create a vision for all recreational opportunities in the city for the decades to come.

Why it matters: Sunrise Park and its pavilion and swim center opened in 1975 to great fanfare, but in Dolle’s presentation, he makes the case that it’s starting to show its age. 

• The most significant issues, Dolle thinks, are the “shabby” and underutilized pavilion and leisure center, the “tired” and unsustainable turf landscaping, and the inadequate identity signage and directional signage. 

Zoom in: Dolle wants to improve the signage identity and wayfinding signage and add more native landscaping around the perimeter. He also wants the pavilion and leisure center to be renovated into a modern local venue.

State of play: Several projects in and around the park are already in the works, including the renovation of the public library and the swim center, new lighting at the baseball stadium, and a new kitchen being constructed at the Mizell Center.

• Also planned is a revision to the city’s overall parks and recreation master plan, scheduled to start within the coming year.

Bottom line: Dolle encourages anyone interested in the project to learn more about how to contribute to the master plan process and to keep in touch with their city councilmember. “That’s the only way they know what the community wants,” he said.

Please read our complete story online here

BRIEFLY

🚧 Major waterline break disrupts traffic

A major waterline rupture at a busy city intersection Tuesday afternoon sent water spewing into the air and caused headaches for motorists and Desert Water Agency crews.

• DWA workers sent to repair the break reported that it was caused by contractors working on a signal synchronization project undertaken by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). While it was known that there would be digging in the area, they said, the pipe that was struck had not been marked. 
  
  
• The repair work resulted in a detour of motorists driving southbound on North Indian Canyon Drive near San Rafael Drive. As of late Tuesday evening, drivers were still being detoured. No water service was reportedly disrupted.  
  
  
• But wait: As if one road closure wasn’t enough for beleaguered North Indian Canyon Drive, the city also closed it at Sunrise Parkway Tuesday evening due to blowing sand in the wash. 

🗑️ Curbside cleanup coming

A citywide trash cleanup is planned all next week, offering residents the opportunity to dispose of large items and extra trash at their homes for free.

• To dispose of large items, including appliances and up to 10 bags of extra trash, all simply set the items out at the curb by Monday morning, Oct. 16, at 7 a.m.
  
  
• Collections of the extra items will be performed on all days next week as crews canvas the city. They may not necessarily be on your regular collection day.
  
  
• If you miss out on getting your items to the curb, you can bring them to City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
  
  
• Details: For more information about the program, visit this Palm Springs Disposal Service website.

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TODAY’S EVENTS

Chinese Mah Jong Open Play
2 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Practice your Mah Jong skills against others. There will be one game set provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own.

The Mod Squad Variety Show
5 p.m. | Cultural Center
Enjoy an evening of live music at the valley’s “Happiest happy hour!” This week features hosts Jeff Stewart, Francesca Amari, and Wayne Abravanel . ($10)

Planning Commission
5:30 p.m. | In-person and online
This agenda for this meeting notes notes that the commission will have a public hearing over a conditional use permit for a cannabis cultivation and manufacturing operation. Check out the rest of the agenda online.

Prospect Live: An Evening of Politics and Comedy
7 p.m. | Cultural Center
Join a lively discussion with Prospect Magazine editor David Dayen and others, on the state of the country as we head into the 2025 presidential election.  

Horizons Jazz Series: Explorare
7:30 p.m. | Ace Hotel & Swim Club
A live, open-air jazz and dinner series featuring Explorare drummer and producer Tommaso Cappellato, a musical maverick who has made his mark on the progressive jazz scene.

SAVE THE DATE

• Battle in the Desert boxing event featuring PSPD Sgt. Mike Torres on Oct. 14. ($40)
  
  
• Modernism Week October from Oct. 19-22.
  
  
• Coachella Valley Garden Day on Oct. 21 at UCR Palm Desert.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walkon Nov. 4 ($40 registration through Nov. 1)

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community.

Today we invite you to meet Mac, a four-year-old male American Staffordshire Terrier mix who’s been at the shelter since July. Staff at the shelter say Mac is an energetic lap dog who’s good with other dogs and loves to play. He’d do best in an active home with a yard or other ways to let his energy out.

• Staff say Mac is fun, smart, and loving. And yes, once he’s calmed down he can be quite the couch dog.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Tuesdays (open for intake and clinic only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here. And get a jump start on adoption by completing the form here.