Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.{{item.number}}
Meeting Date: September 24, 2025
From: Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
Title: 2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation Grant Award RECOMMENDATION:
To accept the 2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation Grant in the amount of $98,167.00 and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the grant agreement.
BACKGROUND:
Arts in California Parks is a new program from California State Parks. This initiative brings together talented artists, wise culture bearers, California Native American tribes, and our diverse communities. Part of this program is a grant to bring art into local parks.
Cathedral City applied for the first round in June 2024 but did not receive an award. The City applied during the second round and was awarded an implementation grant.
DISCUSSION:
Cathedral City’s project, Hope Rising, will activate Esperanza Park, which opened on May 22, 2025, welcoming neighbors and visitors to this new public space, promoting fun and culturally relevant activities to ensure the park remains a safe place for all to enjoy. Through activation, Cathedral City will be able to share our culture with all who visit and help the Dream Homes community heal from shared trauma. Cathedral City wants Esperanza Park to become a place of healing and the place for celebrating this portion of the community. The new Public Art will help bring the community together and create a sense of ownership for the residents. Utilizing community outreach, creating tangible art, and facilitating cultural celebrations, Hope Rising will honor the past, present, and future of the Dream Homes neighborhood and Cathedral City.
The project will also help celebrate Cathedral City’s diverse cultures through four themed events: Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Present, Visions of the Future, and Together We Heal. Each event will center around the community working together to paint a mural section centered around the shared themes, culminating into a nearly 300 sq ft mural. Located on the 9.5 ft x 30 ft wall facing the entry to CV Link, the mural will showcase the themes identified in the events and will be a welcoming entryway into the park. The planned events will utilize art activities, music, cultural performances, storytelling, poetry, and food to bring the community together and celebrate our shared heritage.
Desert Recreation District (DRD) has pledged support for this project and will help plan and implement all events.
To achieve these overarching goals, the Hope Rising Committee will:
•Complete a call for artists for the painting of community mural, bringing all submissions to the Public Arts Commission for a panel review. The final concepts will be brought to the community for review and acceptance.
•Utilize partners to assist with community engagement
•Work with community leaders and organizations to bring finalists for community approval.
•Work with Desert Recreation District to plan and coordinate four themed community events.
•Implement four themed community events, installing the art and promoting art celebrating our varied cultures.
The grant award ($98,167.00) will cover DRD’s labor, event materials and supplies, event promotion, and grant subcontractors (including the muralist, S.C.R.A.P. Gallery classes, and local musicians). Grant match ($190,230.00) will include the cost of the entryway sculpture (included in the CIP plan), city staff labor, and the call for artists. These in-kind costs are already programmed in the budget.
FISCAL IMPACT:
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Grant Revenue 249-900-910-
911-6700-6731 G0XXXX ($ 98,167.00) ONE-TIME
2025-2026 Grant Expense 249-900-910-
911-8200-8209 G0XXXX $ 98,167.00 ONE-TIME
2025-2026 Grant Match
Expense
100-900-910-
911-XXXX-XXXX G0XXXX $190,230.00 ONE-TIME
2025-2026 Total $288,397.00
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal A - SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE AND DEDICATION
Goal B - COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Goal F - EMBRACING, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
ATTACHMENTS:
1.Grant Award Notification
2.Grant Application