Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and the Desert Recreation District have announced a groundbreaking ceremony for Thermal's first community park. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 14, at 87-229 Church Street in Thermal, California.
The county has facilitated the development of this future park by donating land and securing $4.5 million in funding through Supervisor Perez. The planned 10-acre park will be located at the intersection of Church Street and Olive Street in Thermal.
Supervisor Perez expressed his personal connection to the project: “I remember as a child growing up near Thermal, where my aunts and uncles lived, and realizing that there is no park space in the community,” he said. “Residents and families have long desired and deserve a park of their own."
The new park will feature ball fields, sports courts, walking paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, shade structures, a splash pad, an amphitheater, and a kiosko. The Desert Recreation District will lead the project with an estimated completion time of 15 months.
Kevin Kalman from the Desert Recreation District commented on the project's significance: “We are thrilled to break ground this Saturday on the Thermal Community Park... This park will serve as a cornerstone for community connection.”
The initiative to establish parks in North Shore, Oasis, and Thermal began years ago due to insufficient access to green spaces for residents. Currently, the nearest parks are located in Coachella or Mecca.
In 2017, Riverside County donated land for this purpose. A grant from California provided $4.5 million towards development in 2021. By 2023 additional land was acquired to expand it into a full 10-acre site.
In April of this year, further financial support came from Fourth District American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated by Supervisor Perez and Riverside County Board of Supervisors totaling $4.5 million.
Overall funding amounts to $10.3 million with contributions including an $847,285 Proposition 1 grant from Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy; $100,000 via Community Development Block Grant from Riverside County; developer fees contributing $234,000; plus $164k from Thermal Club backdated to its commitment made in 2015 toward creating such recreational facilities locally.