Parks and Recreation Commission chair abruptly resigns, takes city to task over poor process, inclusion issues

Palm Springs Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jerry Alcorn, who recently served as chair, abruptly resigned last month, citing personal and professional obligations. But as he left, he outlined several frustrations with the commission’s operations, its role in addressing the public’s concerns, and the current state of parks.

In a resignation letter dated Oct. 5, Alcorn outlined issues ranging from poor communication, what he described as stagnancy, and a lack of proactivity within the commission. He was also critical of the lack of inclusive thinking about parks, especially when it comes to the needs of minority residents and those with disabilities.

“(T)he people who are in charge do not truly understand living in Palm Springs and being a part of the community,” Alcorn wrote in the letter. “How about our soccer players having to use any park they can when they can because they don’t have any type of soccer park or designated place to play?

“It’s because they’re the minority and do not have a voice. … It’s just heartbreaking to me … and I no longer want to be a part of it.”

In response to Alcorn’s comments, Parks Director Yvonne Wise expressed gratitude for his work during the more than five years he served on the commission but also acknowledged the city’s shortcomings.

“Our recreational programs are better because of the hard work that you have done over the past years, and we cannot thank you enough for your steadfast commitment to Palm Springs,” Wise wrote. 

“(W)hile we have made many great strides, there is still much to do to advance our parks and recreational facilities for the community. We will continue to work hard to achieve the vision that we all want to see realized.”

For Alcorn, who owns and operates an adaptive mobility business, much of that hard work is needed to improve internal processes. To begin with, he said, pre-meeting sessions between city staff and the commission – vital to its ability to be proactive about new initiatives – need to resume. 

Also needed, he said, was more “inclusion and open-minded, progressive thinking.” 

A case in point was the effort to establish a disc golf course in the city when they were gaining popularity elsewhere in the Coachella Valley.

Last spring, local disc golf players pitched the commission on adding facilities for their sport to a local park. The players said their club had already raised the money to buy the equipment and would install it themselves. However, nothing came of the commission’s promise to look into it. 

Another inflection point for Alcorn happened during a discussion over new playground equipment earlier this year. Alcorn, a walking paraplegic and ADA advocate, said that when he tried to push for more ADA inclusion in playgrounds, it wasn’t taken seriously.

“A playground equipment sales representative said kids in wheelchairs can roll up to the stairs and pull themselves onto the equipment,” he recalled.

The comment came during a February meeting when the sales representative told Alcorn that children in wheelchairs could hoist themselves onto the play equipment and “pull themselves around.”

In an interview last week, Alcorn said he plans to continue being a presence at area parks and to be involved in the community. “I’m still around,” he said. “I’m still going to bring my kids and family around.” 

And while he understands residents’ frustrations, he hopes members of the public will understand the limitations of commissioners.

“I have gotten berated with e-mails (and) phone calls on my business number regarding issues that are out of our control – from the swim center to the lack of available ball fields,” he wrote in his resignation letter. “…I truly feel their frustrations. But even explaining the reasons for the issues in-depth, and even having presentations on them, I’m still getting berated with e-mails and phone calls.”

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