New Park Coming To Coachella

Work is officially underway on the first phase of a new 29-acre park, in Coachella.

The city hopes the park will inspire fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Jay Stalings says, “I’d probably hang out here with all my friends.”

That’s the goal of the new project, at the corner of Van Buren and Avenue 48. It’s the first new park to be built in Coachella, since 1974.

Mayor Eduardo Garcia says, “That was the last time they built a new park. When you look at the population from 1974 and today, it’s grown about 400%.”

With such a population boom and a median age of 24, parks and recreation are becoming extremely important, when it comes to health and wellness.

Dr. Raul Ruiz says, “This is a good day for all of us and the entire Coachella Valley, because whenever you build a park, you’re building community. And when you build a community around the park, you ensure that you have a healthy community.”

The first 14-acres will be complete, with a $5-million dollar grant, the city won, in a state-wide competition. It’s just the beginning of a project that will provide physical fitness, for the enitre family.

Mayor Garcia says, “We have exercise machines on walking trails and soccer fields, a lot of passive park areas for elderly residents and families, if you just want to hang out on a beautiful day like today.”

With the first phase scheduled to be done by October, the city is waiting to see if they will receive another $5-million dollars, in April.

Mayor Garcia says, “If that happens we’re going all the way to the finish line and completing the entire 29-acres of this beautiful park, called Rancho Los Flores.”