Hope Rising Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration Final Application - Staff Report — Cathedral City City Council, September 24, 2025

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 1
Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation Grant
City of Cathedral City
Mr Kevin Biersack
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234-1208
[email protected]
O: 760-770-0340
Amanda Geisendorfer
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234-1208
[email protected]
O: 760-202-2493
Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 2
Application Form
About Arts in California Parks
We’re excited to introduce you to Arts in California Parks, a program from California State Parks in partnership with Parks California and the California Arts Council. This program brings together talented artists, wise culture bearers, California Native American tribes, and our diverse communities.

Together, we’re creating art that celebrates our past, reflects our present, and dreams up our future. Imagine beautiful installations and engaging programs in our State and local parks, all designed to spark meaningful connections, boost community well-being, and inspire a healthier, happier California.

We’re working hand-in-hand with some amazing initiatives that are all about making nature accessible and enjoyable for all Californians:
•The Outdoor Access for All initiative, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
•The Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative •California State Parks’ Outdoors for All Initiative
•California State Parks’ thoughtful Reexamining Our Past initiative The goals of this program are to:
•Welcome: Our parks are open to everyone! We’re creating projects that reflect and embrace California’s amazing diversity.
•Empower: We’re paving the way for exciting creative careers through mentorship and job opportunities.
•Heal: Experience the healing potential of arts and nature! We’re tapping into their power to boost your well-being and bring communities together.
•Connect: Dive into unforgettable experiences that link you to our beautiful parks, blend culture with nature, and weave our communities closer.
•Inspire: Get ready to unleash your creativity! We’re celebrating California’s rich heritage and honoring the cultural significance of our parklands.

In 2024, we launched the Arts in California Parks Grants Program with a $2.8 million investment to support 31 grant recipients across California. These innovative projects are bringing art and culture programming to local parks, and transforming them into vibrant hubs that blend art, culture, and nature together.

Within this program, Parks California is managing and administering the competitive Arts in California Parks Grants Program, which includes two tracks: Planning + Development and Implementation Grants.

Implementation Grants support established partnerships in executing artistic or cultural projects within local parks. These grants emphasize strong community collaborations with public park entities, specifically funding the project's implementation phase.

These grants aim to:
•Reflect and better connect the public with the cultural heritage of the region.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 3
•Increase investments for arts and cultural experiences in often overlooked communities. •Drive authentic community engagement and thoughtful art program design. •Support a diverse set of art mediums to enhance parks experiences for all visitors. •Connect communities through shared art and cultural experiences in the Arts in California Parks programs.

For the 2025 Implementation Grants, proposals must focus on arts projects and/or cultural programs that are fully developed and ready for implementation. Proposals must meet the following minimum qualifications:
•Applications must be submitted by a 501c3 non-profit organization, fiscally sponsored community organization, California Native American tribe, Native 7871 organization, foundation, land trust and/or local government agency (city, county, regional*). *Regional agencies refer to government entities operating across multiple jurisdictions, such as regional park districts, regional planning agencies, or multi- county collaborations.
•Projects must facilitate a partnership between nonprofit(s) and local public park manager(s). Partnerships may include 501c3 non-profit organizations, fiscally sponsored community organizations, California Native American tribes, Native 7871 organizations, foundations, land trusts and/or local governments. •Projects must contribute to community health, well-being, social cohesion, and/or place-making, fostering sustainable connections between people and local parks. •Eligible projects must be free and open to the public.

Proposals must meet most of the following criteria to be considered:
•Demonstrates alignment with the Arts in California Parks program goals. •Integrate inclusive community engagement strategies in the development of art and culture programming to enhance cultural and social relevance.
•Support artists career development, equitable compensation, mentorship, and/or strengthens the regional creative economy.
•Contribute to community health, well-being, social cohesion, and place-making, fostering sustainable connections between people and parks.
•Ensure projects are inclusive and accessible, with focus on economic and physical access for diverse populations.

Preference will be given to proposals that meet multiple criteria listed below:
•Offer participants meaningful and relevant experiences that can be enjoyed more than once. •Supports artist development of sustainability within their practices, encourages actions to control and offset the harmful impacts of material use or fabrication methods. •Project takes place in a desired region.
•Projects with matching funds (financial or in-kind).

The 2025 grant term is from October 2025 – September 2026, with a total anticipated award amount of $2.6 million. Applicants should anticipate awards ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 for Planning & Development Grants and $15,000 to $150,000 for Implementation Grants. However, applicants are encouraged to request an amount that aligns with the scope and scale of their proposed project.

Funds for this grant track are intended to cover the fulfillment of the proposal’s goals and expenses. These Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 4
expenses may include, but are not limited to staff time, community engagement activities, artist fees, materials, labor, installation costs, event costs, and permits.

Letter of Intent Responses
Your Letter of Intent responses have been added below for project context. If you would like to make any minor changes to these responses, please feel free to do so here. We do not allow any major changes to your program such as a new installation, different theme, and/or purpose. Please limit your changes to minor updates and clarifying details that maintain the spirit of the original LOI.

Primary Local Park
Please list the name and address of the primary local park where the project will take place.

Example: Rainbow Park, 800 Capitol Drive. Arcadia, CA, 97356 Esperanza Park, 30600 San Diego Drive, Cathedral City, CA 92234 If your program has more than one primary park location:

Please list the names and addresses of the additional local parks here.

Project Summary
Provide an overview of your project, including the intended audience, confirmed locations, and key activities.

Describe how the project aligns with your goals and timeline, specifying whether it will take place once or multiple times during the grant period. If any aspects are still being finalized, explain how this phase will support the project’s successful implementation.

Cathedral City is a working-class community of 51,968 residents, located within the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation between Palm Springs and the Rancho Mirage in Inland Empire’s Riverside County. Cathedral City has a majority minority population with 61.55% of the residents identifying as Hispanic. Cathedral City has the third lowest median income of the nine Coachella Valley cities at $65,462.

The Dream Homes neighborhood, a Federal Climate and Economic Justice disadvantaged community, was established in 1958 as part of the post-World War II desert valley community housing boom. Predominantly settled by low income, working-class immigrant families who fled Los Angeles, the 84% Hispanic neighborhood struggled with the Barrio Dream Homes gang from the earliest days. Effective policing helped reduce neighborhood gang violence. But neglect, lack of community resources, and an overall feeling of being overlooked has remained.

Esperanza Park, the city’s newest and largest park, is a conscientious effort by the city to reinvest in the Dream Homes community and provide equitable access to recreational facilities. Creating Esperanza Park leveraged significant community engagement to determine the desired amenities and the park’s name.

Esperanza, Spanish for hope, honors the resiliency and hope the residents feel for the future.

Opened May 22nd, this park, adjacent to the Dream Homes neighborhood, includes children’s play areas and equipment, shaded picnic and outdoor fitness areas, a multi-use field, soccer fields, basketball courts, dog park, and a connection to CV Link: a regional multi-modal corridor. Cathedral City is also annexing into Desert Recreation District (DRD) to program and maintain the city’s parks, including Esperanza, effective July 1, 2025.

Residents are mainly concerned with park safety. To promote appropriate activities, Hope Rising will continue community engagement to activate the new park, providing community-led art projects and cultural celebrations to honor the generational histories of the neighborhood’s and Cathedral City’s tribal and Hispanic residents. This grant will allow the City to develop and implement a nearly 300 sq ft mural which will be installed and centered around four city hosted, themed community events. These events will include Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 5
music, food, cultural displays, performances, and the creation of the mural, co-created and painted by residents in partnership a professional artist, activating and celebrating the neighborhood’s and Cathedral City’s cultural heritage.

DRD will be a key partner in this program’s implementation. If awarded, they will assist with various tasks such as community engagement, book readings, providing art classes, and other family-engaging activities.

Initial conversations have also occurred with muralists experienced in creating community-involved projects to consult and possibly participate in the murals’ creation.

Partnership*
List your project partner organization(s) and include the names and titles of the key individuals who will work closely on the project. The minimum partnership requirement includes at least a nonprofit and park manager, with the option to identify artist(s).

Clearly outline the nature of the partnership, the responsibilities each partner will take on, and any specific resources or expertise they will provide.

The below will partner on the project and plan the events.

Desert Recreation District, Kevin Kallman, General Manager - Community engagement, planning and hosting events
City of Cathedral City Parks and Community Events Commission, Erin Hyland, Chair - Hope Rising Committee City of Cathedral City Public Arts Commission, Craig Liebelt, Chair - Hope Rising Committee The below will not partner on the project but will participate in the events.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Margaret Park, Chief Planning Officer Agua Caliente Elementary School, Eric Antuna, Principal Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City, Scott Robinson, Chief Executive Officer Cathedral City Senior Center, Geoff Corbin, Chief Executive Officer and Vic Ide, Chief Operations Officer S.C.R.A.P. Gallery, Karen Riley, Executive Director
Community Engagement
How will community engagement activities (e.g., workshops, surveys, public meetings) shape the project/program while promoting inclusivity and accessibility?
The Hope Rising Committee, comprised of City staff, the Desert Recreation District (DRD), Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE), and Public Arts Commission (PAC) members, will serve as the engagement team for the events.

The City has been engaging with the Dream Homes community throughout the development of Esperanza Park, which opened May 22nd. A community listening session was conducted March 18, 2025, in English and Spanish, to introduce the DRD and get community feedback on programming and activities residents would like to see at the park. The DRD is the largest park and recreation district in California, with extensive experience producing culturally relevant programming in collaboration with the communities they serve. The city also sought input on a public art piece at the March 18th meeting. Desired themes for the sculpture that will welcome visitors to Esperanza Park included rebirth, resurrection, and resilience. A joint subcommittee of PACE and PAC members have also worked together on the earlier park development and artwork outreach.

They will continue to be at the forefront of resident engagement within the Dream Homes neighborhood.

Agua Caliente Elementary School has and will continue to serve as the neighborhood meeting place for community meetings. The City has plans to conduct a citywide survey of to gain the community’s thoughts on desired programming when the DRD takes over the City parks. Surveys will be provided in both English and Spanish. With DRD’s expertise, Cathedral City will develop a culturally relevant project, celebrating our multifaceted heritage.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 6
Community engagement will continue during the mural project. As plans are finalized, staff will advertise upcoming events to the public via the city’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor; through the city’s weekly newsletter at www.discovercathedralcity.gov; on the city’s online calendar; and via direct mailers to the residents of the Dream Homes community. For the development of the mural projects, staff will solicit community input on themes or topics and provide that input in the call for artists to select artists for the projects. Local and regional artists be invited to bid and all residents will be invited to help finish the murals. Through using a “paint by numbers” mural approach, the entire city will help celebrate and activate Esperanza Park and the Dream Homes community.

Artistic Focus
What is the artistic vision of your project, and how does it align with your goals and community engagement efforts?
The Dream Homes community has faced many hardships, including gang violence, loss of loved ones, and a sense of neglect from the local communities. Through their perseverance and unwavering hope, the Dream Homes community willed Esperanza Park to life. With construction set for completion in 2025, Cathedral City wants to see this park 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 celebration, the Hope Rising Committee is committed to implementing a Public Arts project to benefit the community, helping them heal from past trauma. Hope, vibrancy, and renewal will be themes used throughout to guide this project.

Project plans will be designed to celebrate our community’s multifaceted heritage, create a sense of ownership for the park, inspire community members to express themselves through art, empower local artists, and elevate community engagement through creative expression. Mural design meetings will take place in a centralized location, allowing more community members to express their hopes for Esperanza Park.

Accommodation will be available for families with young children who may not be able to sit through a meeting.

Planned programming during the four events will include art activities, music, performances by the Cathedral City High School folklórico dancers, storytelling, poetry, and the installation of a nearly 300 sq ft mural. A committed key supporter is the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery: the only children’s art and environmental conservation museum in Coachella Valley, and the only one of its kind in Riverside County. The S.C.R.A.P. Gallery teaches children about complex environmental issues, arts, culture, science and much more while creating art using donated discarded materials. The city is also fortunate to have an abundance of local artists to reach out to for bids on mural projects. Cathedral City has a history of using local talent for public art projects, including hiring 25 local artists to paint benches at Ocotillo City Park.

Esperanza Park will also serve as a beacon of hope to others in the community. Located along Coachella Valley Link (CV Link), an over 40-mile alternative transportation route snaking from Palm Springs to Coachella, CA, Esperanza Park will be one of the first completed destinations along the route and will connect the park to the rest of the Coachella Valley. The art, showcasing Dream Homes and Cathedral City’s vibrant past, present, and future, will help share the neighborhood and the city’s culture and heritage with the Coachella Valley and the many visitors who travel from all over the world to the valley during the winter months. Cathedral City will no longer be a pass-through community and will instead become a destination, sharing their culture with the world.

Artist or Organization Selection Process
What was your artist selection process and key priorities for partnering with an artist(s) or the organization responsible for leading artistic aspects of the project? The Hope Rising Committee has not finalized artists. However, as part of the implementation process, the committee will conduct a call for artists for the community murals. Details of the request will include Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 7
requesting art samples, a statement of qualifications, and a panel review by the Public Arts Commission. Final options will be presented to the Dream Homes community for input prior to selection. Staff will seek artists from underrepresented groups or who have experience developing art with underrepresented groups, to submit proposals.

Staff have been in contact with muralists with experience in community-participating murals who have informally expressed interest in collaborating with the city to develop the proposal process for the murals.

These include:

Peter Salcido, Flat Black Art Supply, Inc – local street art store and gallery www.flatblackonline.com.

Carlo & Ethel Zafranco, AQMNI Mural Co. AQMNI partners with Arts Bridging the Gap, a non-profit Social Justice organization, to facilitate community programs that uplift the voices of youth in underserved communities. Recent works include AQMNI, along with the student cohort Disrumpo and local Antelope Valley artist Lori Antoinette created a mural in Palmdale, CA titled “Modern Ancestry” that paid tribute to the rich indigenous heritage that is part of the national identity. www.aqmni.com.

By July 1, 2025, Cathedral City will have been annexed into the Desert Recreation District (DRD) who will provide, for the first time, regular recreational programming to Cathedral City residents. The DRD will lead efforts to coordinate vendors and logistics for the arts and cultural days scheduled in the park.

Cultural Relevance
How does your project engage with the historical, contemporary, and/or future narratives of the local community, and how will it ensure cultural relevance within the region? Cathedral City celebrates its multicultural heritage! The City of Cathedral City’s adopted vision statement states, “Cathedral City is a safe, family-oriented community that values, respects, and supports human differences and diverse perspectives. We strive to be a vibrant, progressive, enterprising, and visually attractive community. Our diverse housing options and vibrant businesses attract residents and visitors who choose Cathedral City for its culture, arts, special events, and natural resources.” The City Council adopted five-year strategic plan has a goal of being an embracing, inclusive community.

The Hope Rising project at Esperanza Park will utilize murals, music and dance, food, and poetry readings to honor and celebrate the Dream Homes community’s past, present, and their hope for the future. Community engagement will help determine the topics and activities most meaningful to the community, such as rebirth, resurrection, and resilience. In addition to a community-led mural creation, proposed art subjects include design of the community inspired entryway sculpture, “What Hope Means to Me” poetry readings, book giveaways and readings of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, along with other art and cultural focused activities coordinated by the Desert Recreation District. Two of the proposed participants for cultural learning and entertainment include inclusion of local Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Bird Singers and Cathedral City High School folklórico dancers. The events will focus on Cathedral City’s tribal heritage and our strong Hispanic roots. The committee will work with the Dream Homes community to finalize the project plan. The recurring events will help activate the park, celebrating the area, sharing and honoring our culture, and continuing Cathedral City’s mission of being the place “Where Art Lives.” Implementation Grant - Full Application
We are thrilled to invite your organization to submit a full application for the Arts in California Parks program. Final rankings will be based solely on the score received on your full application.

Full applications are due on June 13, 2025, at 5 p.m.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 8
Project Name*
Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration
Organization Type
Please select your organization type from the options below.

If invited to submit a full application, nonprofit organizations will be asked to upload 501c3 status letter from IRS.

Local Government Agency
Grant Request Amount
As the projected budget estimates of the LOI process were directional and not binding, please update the grant request amount here if applicable. However, please be sure that your request remains within 10% of the previous request.
98167
Program Goals*
What are your goals for the project and the participant’s experience? 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 event's theme, 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 Dream Homes and Cathedral City culture for all travelers to see. The planned events will utilize art activities, music, cultural performances, storytelling, poetry, and food to bring the community together and celebrate our shared heritage.

To achieve these overarching goals, the Hope Rising Committee will:
- Complete a call for artists for painting and design of the 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 culture.

Participant Experience*
Describe what participants might observe, interact with, and/or participate in during the program.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 9
The Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration will take place over four community events centered around hope, vibrancy, and renewal. Throughout each event, the community will work with a professional muralist to complete part of the “paint by number” mural. The mural will face the multi-modal trail park entrance, visible to all who travel CV Link: a 42-mile trail system through Coachella Valley. Each event will incorporate the event’s theme into the mural, instilling pride in the public art.

The event series begins with Echoes of the Past—a celebration honoring the cultural roots and ancestral stories of the Dream Homes community. This event will honor local traditions with performances by Cathedral City High School’s folklórico dancers and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (ACBCI) Bird Singers. A curated Memory Lane art installation will display historic photos and stories contributed by residents. Traditional artisans will showcase handmade cultural goods as attendees participate in a papel picado workshop, expressing their cultural pride with vibrant paper art and serving as the next event’s art installation.

Voices of the Present captures the vibrant energy, talent, and identity of the Dream Homes community and Cathedral City today. The park will come alive with performances by local bands, spoken word artists, and music reflecting the neighborhood and community’s dynamic and diverse spirit. “What Hope Means to Me” will give residents the chance to share their voices through poetry, storytelling, and lived experience. Book giveaways and readings of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan will teach complex themes. Resource booths will highlight local programs focused on arts, wellness, and youth development. Children and families will create hope flags and participate in a mini canvas painting workshop.

Visions of the Future allows the community to dream boldly, looking ahead with hope and imagination. An Innovation Zone will showcase arts, STEM, and career readiness programs. Attendees will contribute to an interactive Dream Board Wall, expressing their hopes for the future. Young performers will inspire with music, dance, and storytelling. Children will craft themed art with recycled materials, connecting environmental consciousness and creativity.

The final event, Together We Heal, will be a powerful celebration of connection, restoration, and community resilience. A ceremonial blessing by a representative of ACBCI will honor the land, setting an intentional tone of gratitude and unity. The event will also feature cultural performances to bring the community together through shared rhythm and tradition. A Wellness Row will offer yoga sessions, mental health resources, and free wellness screenings while a Community Partner Village with local organizations shares social events and programming. Families will engage in reflective activities, creating kindness stones and planting seed bombs, reinforcing themes of healing and growth.

Concept Illustrations*
Provide visual or conceptual materials to illustrate your concept. These materials should align with your project’s current stage of development. If artists have been selected, include relevant visuals; if artists are still being identified, provide materials that represent the project’s vision. All files should be clearly labeled with your project name and organization.

File Upload Options:
•Images/renderings: Up to 10 high-quality images (300dpi) with descriptions. Images may include previous work samples, conceptual sketches, or relevant visual references. •Video Links: Provide a video link (YouTube, Vimeo) for performance or interactive elements, not exceeding 5 minutes.
•Portfolio or Proposal PDF document (optional): If preferred, applicants may submit a single PDF combining images with brief descriptions instead of visual uploads.

Note: Applicants are encouraged to provide clear narrative responses in the application. Required project details – such as vision, deliverables, artist qualifications, and process – will be addressed separately in text- based questions.

City of Cathedral City Hope Rising Vision Board 6.13.25 3.pdf Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 10
Access and Inclusion*
How does your project promote access and inclusion?
All will be welcome at our events! To help promote the events, we will utilize multiple forms of advertisements, including mailers, social media blasts, direct outreach to neighborhood schools, and our website. All advertisements will be in both English and Spanish. Events will also feature a variety of activities, giving attendees the ability to express their creativity in multiple ways. In addition to the mural paintings, we will have music, dance, poetry corners, Dream Board walls, and many other offerings. The events will be in a centralized location in the park, in an area where all can reach. Utilizing the concrete areas will ensure all that will be able to attend the events, regardless of their physical ability. Activities will also have adaptive options available.

Each event will also incorporate cultural inclusions, sharing each other’s experiences with the community at large, following the main event theme. Installations will include a curated Memory Lane art installation displaying historic photos and stories contributed by residents; performances by local bands, spoken word artists, and music that reflect the neighborhood’s dynamic and diverse spirit; and cultural performances, including Indigenous drumming and dance, to bring the community together through shared rhythm and tradition.

Community Benefit*
How will your project directly benefit the local community? Directly address the ways in which your project will bring art and nature together as a catalyst for community connection, health, well-being, and/or placemaking in local parks.

Esperanza Park will serve as a place of rebirth for the Dream Homes community. The neighborhood, once without equitable access to recreational facilities, is now home to the newest and largest park in Cathedral City. Opened May 22nd, the park has already seen families come play and enjoy the outdoors. As one of the first completed stops for CV Link, other communities also have the ability to walk or bike to the new park, turning Dream Homes into a destination and not just another community.

Hope Rising will activate Esperanza Park, curating a safe and inviting area for visitors to enjoy the outdoors and local art. Each event will incorporate a theme correlating with the mural section being completed, with the goal of the community expressing and sharing their culture, history, and hope for the future. In addition to the mural, each event will incorporate art and activities, building upon the event’s theme. This will allow residents to express themselves in a safe and supportive space and will help transform public opinion of the neighborhood whose history is full of strife and difficulties.

Additional activities will include a curated Memory Lane art installation, inviting reflection and conversation about the neighborhood’s journey; resource booths highlighting local programs focused on arts, wellness, and youth development; youth organizations hosting an Innovation Zone, showcasing STEM, arts, and career readiness programs; and a ceremonial blessing by a representative of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, honoring the land and setting an intentional tone of gratitude and unity.

Collaboration*
How will the project strengthen connections and collaborations between community organizations, community and land managers?
Before events can take place, Hope Rising will complete a call for artists and a community approval meeting.

This meeting will help finalize the mural. Agua Caliente Elementary School is centralized in Dream Homes, providing a central location for the community meeting and engagement with students on ideas for murals for the park. The City received 400 responses from the students with their ideas on names for the park and Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 11
drawings of what they would like to do at the park. Nearly 200 students also submitted drawings of what they would like the entryway sculpture to depict.

Hope Rising will be one of the first major recreation programs hosted by Desert Recreation District (DRD) in Cathedral City. Before being annexed into DRD (effective July 1), recreation programs were not common in Cathedral City. Without the ability to regularly host recreation programs, Cathedral City instead hosted a handful of larger events. With DRD, residents will now have access to multiple events throughout the Coachella Valley. Hope Rising will serve as an introduction to DRD’s programming, with options such as swimming lessons, guitar and piano lessons, dance and exercise classes, and sports to name a few. Not only will the community learn what DRD has to offer, information booths at each event will also ask residents what programming they would like to see in the community. Cathedral City and DRD will also continue to collaborate with the local communities throughout Hope Rising, ensuring the events reflect the community’s desires.

Community organizations will also be invited to host information booths or activities. Each organization will share what they provide with the community and receive feedback from residents. The organizations include Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City, Cathedral City Senior Center, S.C.R.A.P. Gallery, and Tools for Tomorrow.

Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City’s mission is “To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” They will assist with community outreach and activities during community celebrations in the neighborhood.

Cathedral City Senior Center offers social, recreational, educational, and health-related programs to over 600 local members. Cathedral City Senior Center will assist with community outreach.

S.C.R.A.P Gallery is an environmental/art organization delivering art and environmental education to children in the region. S.C.R.A.P. will assist with art activites during events.

Tools For Tomorrow provides free, after-school literacy programs integrating Creative Writing, Art, Music and Theater for children ages seven to eleven. During the events, Tools for Tomorrow will provide information on their programs and activities for attendees.

Creative Development*
How will this project support artists’ career development and/or strengthen the regional creative economy? Please describe specific strategies for artist mentorship, training, and/or equitable compensation.

The Coachella Valley, and specifically Cathedral City, is home to many local artists. The Perez Arts District in Cathedral City is one of the largest regions of artists in the Coachella Valley. Desert Open Studios annually showcases over 150 regional artists through a weekend of open studios. The Public Arts Commission has also developed a list of local artists who have submitted during prior calls for artists. With the Public Arts Commission’s help, Cathedral City is working to strengthen the Downtown Arts District, helping to further promote our extremely talented resident artists.

During Hope Rising, the City’s Public Arts Commission will advertise a Call for Artists to identify artists for the mural project. As with past efforts, the City will reach out to local and regional artists and will focus on submissions from California artists. The Public Arts Commission will try to identify if there are any artists currently residing in the Dream Homes neighborhood and invite them to participate in the calls for artists.

Utilizing community feedback, the Public Arts Commission will recommend selections that can best bring the community’s vision to light. Artists will be paid fairly for their work and will be promoted through the City’s social media, helping to increase their recognition.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 12
Communication Strategy*
Describe your strategy for communicating with your community about your program, including how you will encourage involvement or keep people informed. What specific tools (social media, printed materials, mailings, newsletters, etc.) will you use to effectively engage your audience and promote participation? Cathedral City will partner with multiple organizations to ensure the best outcome for our communities.

Desert Recreation District (DRD), experienced and competent in working with multilingual communities, will facilitate outreach and plan the mural painting events. Currently identified leaders from within the community will also be brought in to help connect with neighborhood residents. The Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) also has a subcommittee identified that worked within the neighborhood to name the park that will be leveraged.

The Hope Rising Committee will send periodic mailers out to the Dream Homes community, letting them know the date and location of the approval meeting and requests to fill out surveys to gather opinions. The Hope Rising Planning Committee will also post information online on Cathedral City’s website and social media platforms. The meeting will give residents a chance to give input and express their ideas before the final artist selection.

The Hope Rising Planning Committee will utilize bilingual (English and Spanish) mailers, social media blasts, surveys, and a community meeting to communicate with the community. Past Community Outreach efforts have favored these outreach options.

Mailers featuring a call to action will be sent out periodically to the Dream Homes community. These will include items such as surveys to complete, meeting locations to attend, and scheduled events. Sending these bilingual mailers directly to residents will help ensure they know when, where, and how to attend meetings and events. If they are unable to attend, they will also know where to receive updates and submit comments or requests.

The Hope Rising Planning Committee will also utilize social media and the Cathedral City website to perform announcements. Adding this communication strategy will give another notice to residents who may not have received the mailers.

The committee will also host the meeting in a centralized location. Agua Caliente Elementary School, located in the center of the Dream Homes community, is the tentative location. The school was the meeting site for most of the community meetings during Esperanza Park’s design. The meeting will utilize a translator so all members of the community can participate. To help families with young children, art classes will be held during the meeting. This will allow parents to participate in the meeting while children can express their hopes for Esperanza Park.

Surveys and voting will be used to ensure community members’ voices are heard throughout the process. We will provide options to vote in person at the meetings, email, and allow citizens to drop off or mail surveys to City Hall.

Project Timeline*
Please provide detailed project timeline outlining key milestones, deadlines, and deliverables. The timeline should indicate when major activities will take place, starting as early as October 2025.

Once awarded, the Hope Rising Committee will start immediately planning the call for artists, anticipated to be completed October 9, 2025. Copies of the advertisements will serve as the deliverable for this step. Artists will have a month to respond to the call, anticipated November 6, 2025. Responses will be sent to the Public Arts Commission for review. A list will be provided as the deliverable. The Public Arts Commission will have 2 weeks (anticipated November 20, 2025) to review the applicants and develop a top eligibility list. A list of the finalists will be provided as the deliverable.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 13
Once finalists are selected, the Hope Rising Committee will announce the date of the community meeting to develop final concepts, anticipated December 15, 2025. Surveys will be available for those unable to attend.

During this meeting, the finalists and their draft concepts will be presented to the community. The community will then have a chance to provide feedback and their desires for the mural themes and vote for the finalist. Copies of the mailers, meeting minutes, and the artist contract will serve as deliverables for this step.

Desert Recreation District and the Hope Rising Committee will start planning the events after artist selection.

Details for the first event will be finalized by the time the mural is approved by City Council (anticipated January 23, 2026). Other events will be finalized as the event approaches (approximately 2 weeks before the event.)
The selected artist will then have two and a half weeks (anticipated January 1, 2026) to incorporate the community’s feedback into their final concept. The final mural will be approved at the next Public Arts Commission (anticipated January 13, 2026) and then approved by the City Council (anticipated January 23, 2026). The final concept and approvals from the City Council and Public Arts Commission will serve as deliverables.

Once approved, it will be time to announce the event timeline and send out notices. The first event, Echoes of the Past, is anticipated mid-February. The second, Voices of the Present, is anticipated mid-March. Visions of the Future, the third event, is anticipated mid-April. The final event, Together We Heal, is anticipated in May.

Photos and videos of the events and vendor and artist contracts will be provided after each event.

The final report will be completed within 30 days of the last event, anticipated June 30, 2026.

Estimated Number of Events/Programming Days*
Please consider each day of events/programming as a separate event. 4 Estimated Number of Program Participants*
Please estimate the total number of program participants in your project as a whole. 8000
Organizational Capacity*
Describe your organization’s capacity to implement the proposed project and the principal staff involved. Detail any anticipated needs for hiring new and/or limited term staff to complete the proposed project, including the roles they would fill and how they would contribute to the project’s success.

The City is finalizing annexation into the Desert Recreation District (DRD), the largest recreation district in California. The DRD will provide park maintenance and programming in Cathedral City. They have a capacity for programming that the City has not had before. DRD has already hired a Community Services Supervisor who is leading the charge to develop programming throughout the City, including the proposed activities under this grant. She will be supported by part-time and contract staff.

The City’s Communications and Special Events department will also support these events through publicity, social media, photography, videography, and graphic design. The department produces the city’s four key annual signature events: Taste of Jalisco, an annual celebration, honoring the sister city relationship between Cathedral City and Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico through culture, cuisine, music, and fashion; the Cathedral City LGBT+ Days, California’s first Pride event of the year, brings together LGBTQ+ residents and visitors for a weekend of live entertainment, community engagement and fun activities every March; the Annual Hot Air Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 14
Balloon Festival which draws close to 20,000 attendees; and the city’s newest event, Taste and Sounds of Cathedral City, a weekly event showcasing the city’s local restaurants and talented local artists.

Recreational, cultural, and arts programming in Cathedral City is also supported by two commissions: the Public Arts Commission (PAC) and Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE). Both commissions have a long history of promoting cultural events to showcase and celebrate the local community. PAC advances performing and visual art in the community by making recommendations to the City Council for the selection, acquisition, and installation of public art; supports the production of live art performances; and sponsors programs and cooperative ventures with other art organizations. The commission administers a grant program ($20,000) to support local artists. Some of the City’s recent artistic events include a book reading and signing of the “The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life” by internet sensation, LGBTQ+ activists, and locals, The Old Gays; quarterly art exhibits of local Cathedral City artists, and completion of a recent project that brought in twenty-three artists to paint benches to beautify Ocotillo Park. PAC has begun public engagement for an entryway sculpture for Esperanza Park, which will be funded by developer in-lieu fees.

The PACE Commission has also conducted many smaller scale programs in city parks across the City. Some key accomplishments of the PACE Commission have been free Yoga in the Park, a Howloween Dog Costume Contest, the new Feliz Navi Dog Costume Competition, participation in the City’s Snowfest events, and supporting other events where needed. PACE was instrumental in helping bring in the Dream Homes residents to provide input in the planning, development and naming of Esperanza Park.

Potential Challenges*
What are some anticipated challenges (internal and/or external) that your organization may encounter when implementing your project/program plan? What are potential strategies for overcoming them? Staff does not anticipate any major challenges with the implementation of this program plan. The city is thrilled to have the Desert Recreation District and their staffing on board as a critical partner to implement the activities of the grant.

The Dream Homes community is a low-income, working-class community. Many of its residents work late or evening hours, making regular meetings a difficult challenge. To help address this, Hope Rising Planning Committee will schedule meetings related to the selection of art in the evenings. Meetings will take place in a centralized location for the community, primarily at Agua Caliente Elementary School, allowing residents to walk, bike, or drive to the meeting. Childcare activities will be provided to enable more families to attend. The childcare activities will be provided by Desert Recreation District and focus on art projects tied to the theme of hope. Staff will also mail flyers and post information on the City’s website. Any voting or requests for ideas will be available in person, by mail, or drop-off at City Hall.

The Dream Homes community is a primarily Hispanic community with many adult residents only speaking Spanish. Bilingual materials and meetings with translators will be provided to promote inclusivity.

Maintenance
If applicable, outline your strategy for maintaining temporary or permanent art installations, detailing the maintenance schedule, and alternative funding sources.

Please note, maintenance costs beyond the project period are not eligible expenses for this grant.

Cathedral City will incorporate the mural into their current public art maintenance schedule. Maintenance will include periodic graffiti removal and touchups as needed. We will also work closely with our chosen artist to help finalize any maintenance plans.

Completed murals will be covered in an Anti-Graffiti coating, helping extend the life and quality of the projects. Any graffiti can also be reported on the MyCathedralCity Mobile App: an application created for our residents to report any concerns to city staff such as city code violations, graffiti, parks maintenance, potholes, sidewalk defects, and traffic signs.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 15
For any touchups, Cathedral City will work with the artist. This will ensure the mural can last up to and potentially past the expected lifespan and will help protect the integrity of the art piece.

Environmental Sustainability*
How, if at all, will your project support artist development of environmental sustainability within their practices, encourage actions to control, and offset the harmful impacts of material use or fabrication methods? Hope Rising will promote multiple environmentally friendly options during the event. First, utilizing active transportation to attend the events will be promoted. Utilizing active transportation such as walking or biking will not only help reduce carbon emissions for the events but will help the community get active. Esperanza Park is the first park located along the CV Link trail system, an over 40-mile multi-modal trail that traverses the Coachella Valley, enabling residents from other cities to also utilize alternative transportation to the event.

S.C.R.A.P. Gallery will also provide environmental education for children. Utilizing discarded and donated materials, S.C.R.A.P. teaches children about complex environmental issues and helps them express their creativity.

DRD will contract with local wildlife experts to provide education on the local wildlife and biodiversity. This booth will help spread the importance of biodiversity and provide a fun learning experience for children and adults alike.

Events will also promote recycling, providing multiple recycling bins throughout the park.

Additional Project Details
Use this section to share any additional project details not covered in the previous responses that could help evaluate your proposal.

One Application Per Organization Confirmation
Is your organization involved in any other Arts in California Parks grant proposals?*
If you have selected "Yes", please specify in the text box below.

No
If Yes - Your Organizations is involved in other Arts in California Parks grant proposals:

How is your organization involved in other Arts in California Parks grant proposals? Please specify.

Are any of your partner organizations involved in other Arts in California Parks grant proposals?*
If you have selected "Yes", please specify in the text box below.

No
Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 16
If Yes - Partner Organizations are involved in other Arts in California Parks grant proposals:

How is/are your partner organization(s) involved in other Arts in California Parks grant proposals? Please specify.

Attachments
Partnership Documentation
Coordination with Primary Land Manager
If you are not the primary local park land manager, please provide the landowner's confirmation of coordination with the applying community organization (e.g. emails, letters of support).

Coordination with Additional Land Managers (if applicable) If your project takes place at land owned by multiple owners, please include the types of agreements in place between the applicant and landowners. Please ensure these agreements are combined into a single, submittable file.

Coordination with Primary Community Partner
If you are the primary local park land manager, please provide confirmation of coordination with the primary community organization (e.g. emails, letters of support).

Cathedral City Hope Rising LOS.pdf
Project Budget*
Upload a detailed project budget using the Arts in California Parks Budget Template, which includes a built-in budget narrative section. The budget should outline all project expenses, specifying how the Arts in California funds will be used and identifying any external funding sources.

Within the budget narrative section of the template, provide a brief explanation for each cost category, detailing how expenses align with project objectives and distinguishing between grant-funded and externally funded costs.

Please submit your file in an .xlsx format.

Cathedral City Hope Rising Implementation Grant Budget.xlsx Photo Release*
Provide an example of your organization’s participant photo release form. Parks California and California State Parks may request photos of your program for reporting, marketing, and/or storytelling purposes.

Photograph-Video Release and Waiver Form.pdf
Additional Information
Did your organization participate in any technical assistance opportunities? Please select any technical assistance opportunities that your organization attended and/or participated in. Your feedback in this section will help us enhance grant cycles and will not affect funding decisions.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 17
Information Webinar
Arts in California Parks Resource Hub and/or FAQ
Please estimate how long it took you to complete this proposal and suggest any improvements.

Amanda Geisendorfer City of Cathedral City
Printed On: 13 June 2025
2025 Arts in California Parks - Implementation
Grant 18
File Attachment Summary
Applicant File Uploads
• City of Cathedral City Hope Rising Vision Board 6.13.25 3.pdf • Cathedral City Hope Rising LOS.pdf
• Cathedral City Hope Rising Implementation Grant Budget.xlsx • Photograph-Video Release and Waiver Form.pdf
• 2024 City of Cathedral City ACFR.pdf
• 2024 City of Cathedral City ACFR.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/live/_bRM10UsR0?feature=shared Singing the Birds 2024
Singing the Birds YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/live/_bR-M10UsR0?feature=shared&t=1359

June 9, 2025 Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager City of Cathedral City 68-700 Avenida Lalo GuerreroCathedral City, CA 92234Dear Ms. Ambrose, As chairs of the Cathedral City Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) and the Public Arts Commission (PAC)Art in Parks grant program. The proposed Hope Rising cultural arts series at Esperanza Park represents a meaningful collaboration between our commissions and the community we serve. is in most culturally rich and underserved neighborhoods. From the earliest planning stages, through the development and naming of the park (Esperanza which means hope), PACE has worked with the community and staff to ensure that residents needs and desires were achieved in the creation of this public space. The Public Arts Commission has taken the baton and has begun working with the community to provide input into the creation of a large-scale public art piece that will grace the entrance of the park. After a listening session facilitated in both English and Spanish, the vision for the piece is about resilience, rising from the ashes, and rebirth with words provided by the residents and artwork of what the sculpture could be provided by the students at the neighboring Agua Caliente Elementary School. The residents will be active participants in helping select the final art piece. Both commissions have worked City staff to develop this four-part seriesEchoes of the Past, Voices of the Present, Visions of the Future, and Together We Healto reflect the unique cultural identity, resilience, and creative spirit of the Dream Homes community. This initiative is not only a celebration of Hispanic heritage and an acknowledgment of the ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indiansit is also a powerful example of how public spaces can be activated through the arts to foster unity, healing, and pride. The inclusion of live performances, intergenerational workshops, a collaborative community mural, and culturally grounded wellness and resource activities will transform Esperanza Park into a vibrant hub of connection and expression.

As commissions dedicated to elevating the quality of life for residents through arts, culture, and inclusive public programming, we are proud to have helped shape this vision. We will continue to provide guidance, volunteer support, and community outreach to ensure the success of this series. We enthusiastically endorse this grant application and are confident that Hope Risingwill have a lasting impactnot only on Esperanza Park, but on the cultural landscape of Cathedral City as a whole. Sincerely, Erin Hyland, Chair Parks and Community Events Commission Craig Liebelt, Chair Public Arts Commission President:

Julie Frazier
Frazier Pest Control
Vice President:

Austin Beneteau
Modern Woodmen
Treasurer:

Ralph Thompson-Cantua
Community Advocate
Secretary:

Elizabeth Grant
Community Advocate
Directors:

Christy Austin
Lender, Fairway Mortgage
Chief Michael Contreras
Cathedral City Fire
Department
Craig Bruce
Evolve Health & Lifestyle
Karen Cornett
P.S.U.S.D. School Board
Cmdr. Jon Enos
Cathedral City Police
Department
Christina Gordon
Vice President, Marketing
Julio Luna
Retired - Cathedral City
Police Department
Jack Rivers
Canyon Print & Signs
Chief Executive Officer:

Scott Robinson
Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City Tax I.D. #95-3507225 32141 Whispering Palms Trail, Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.770.4965 www.bgcccity.org June 12, 2025
Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
City of Cathedral City
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Dear Ms. Ambrose,
On behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City, I am writing to express our enthusiastic support for the City’s application to the California Arts Council’s Art in Parks grant program. We are especially excited about the proposed Hope Rising event series at the new Esperanza Park, which aligns deeply with our mission to enable young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

This dynamic four-part series—Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Present, Visions of the Future, and Together We Heal—beautifully blends cultural celebration, artistic expression, and community empowerment. It creates an inclusive space for families and youth to connect with their heritage, express themselves creatively, and envision a hopeful future. The City’s thoughtful approach to honoring both the neighborhood’s Hispanic roots and the ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is commendable and inspiring.

The Boys & Girls Club of Cathedral City is proud to partner with the City on this initiative.

We are committed to participating in the Hope Rising series through youth-led art activities, performance opportunities, and hands-on workshops that engage our members and amplify their voices. Our team looks forward to contributing to the Innovation Zone, supporting the creation of the community mural, and helping build out the Community Partner Village at the culminating event.

We commend the City for investing in programs that strengthen community pride, promote healing through the arts, and provide safe, creative spaces for youth and families. We believe this series will have a lasting positive impact on the Dream Homes neighborhood and beyond.

Please count on our full support and participation as you move forward with this important and uplifting project.

Sincerely,
Scott Robinson
Chief Executive Officer

June 6, 2025
Mayor Nancy Ross
City of Cathedral City
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Dear Mayor Ross and Members of the City Council,
On behalf of the SCRAP Gallery, I am writing to express our enthusiastic support for the City of Cathedral City’s application to the California Arts Council’s Art in Parks grant program. The Hope Rising cultural arts series at Esperanza Park aligns perfectly with our mission to actively engage youth and families in environmental education and creative expression through repurposed materials.

As a longtime community partner and advocate for environmental and artistic enrichment, we proudly support this meaningful initiative. The Hope Rising series—Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Present, Visions of the Future, and Together We Heal is a powerful and creative approach to honoring culture, fostering community, and promoting sustainability through public art and events. We are particularly excited about the integration of recycled and eco-friendly materials into youth art-making activities, such as the Hope Flags, papel picado workshops, and the Dream Board Wall.

SCRAP Gallery is committed to being an active partner in this project. We will provide hands-on workshops and engaging art experiences at the events, using reused and repurposed materials to help children and families explore environmental creativity. Through our participation, we aim to reinforce messages of sustainability, resilience, and imaginative thinking at the heart of our organization and the Hope Rising program.

We applaud the City for investing in innovative, inclusive programming that celebrates the cultural richness of the Dream Homes neighborhood while honoring the land and its original people. This initiative is a shining example of how art, culture, and environmental stewardship can come together to strengthen and inspire a community. We look forward to supporting and participating in this inspiring series.

Warm regards,
Karen Riley
Executive Director
760/861-6479
[email protected]

Arts in California Parks | Local Parks Grant Program
Budget | 2025 Implementation Grant
Applicant: City of Cathedral City
Program/Project Name: Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration Total Grant Amount
Requested
Budget Item Notes/ Description of Costs
Budget Expenses
Project Staff / Personnel
Assistant City Manager 60 hours @ $136.95
Communications & Events Manager 60 hours @ $82.51
Senior Analyst 60 hours @ $52.76
Administrative Assistant 4 hours @ $99.00
Recreation Supervisor 160 hours @ $53.93
Recreation Instructors 10 employees @ 64 hours @ $23.86 Subtotal, Staff
Budget Narrative: Personnel costs are based on the approximate time staff will spend during the project and their hourly rate with benefits.

Anne Ambrose, Assistant City Manager, will serve as the Project Lead. She will coordinate between the residents, the Public Arts Commission, the Parks and Community Events Commission, subcontractors, and project staff to ensure all deliverables are met. It is estimated that Anne will spend 60 hours on the project. Her time will be spent attending the public meeting (4 hours), announcing and reviewing submitted calls for artists (12 hours), planning and setting up events (32 hours), and attending and working the events (4 events at 4 hours each for 12 hours total). Her pay rate of $136.95 multiplied by 60 hours and rounded to the nearest whole dollar is $8,217.00.

Ryan Hunt, Communications & Events Manager, will serve as the Community Outreach Lead. He will coordinate with vendors and our internal team to prepare marketing and community outreach materials. It is estimated that Ryan will spend 60 hours on the project. His time will be spent attending the public meeting (4 hours), working with the internal team to develop marketing materials (12 hours), planning and setting up events (32 hours), and attending and working the events (4 events at 4 hours each for 12 hours total). His pay rate of $82.51 multiplied by 60 hours and rounded to the nearest whole dollar is $4,951.00.

Amanda Geisendorfer, Senior Analyst will serve as the Project Administrator. She will coordinate between the Public Arts Commission, the Parks and Community Events Commission, and project staff to ensure all reporting and accounting needs are met. It is estimated that Amanda will spend 60 hours on the project. Her time will be spent attending the public meeting (4 hours), gathering and recording information (16 hours), ensuring payables and receivables are properly recorded (16 hours), and completing all reporting documents (16 hours). Her pay rate of $52.76 multiplied by 60 hours and rounded to the nearest whole dollar is $3,166.00.

Michelle Molina, Administrative Assistant will serve as the Live Translator. She will attend the public meeting and translate for our Spanish speaking residents. It is estimated Michelle will spend 4 hours on the project, all of which will be at the public meeting. Her pay rate of $99.00 multiplied by 4 hours and rounded to the nearest whole dollar is $396.00.

Cynthia Morquecho, Community Services Supervisor will serve as the Recreation Supervisor. As a staff member of Desert Recreation District (DRD), she will serve as the Event Coordinator Lead. It is estimated Cynthia will spend 160 hours on the project. Her time will be spent attending the public meeting (4 hours), planning and setting up events with Recreation Instructors (144 hours), and attending and working the events (4 events at 4 hours each for 12 hours total).

Recreation Instructors will be essential to ensuring smooth operations, meaningful engagement, and participant safety across all four community events. Their responsibilities will include: event setup and breakdown, including logistics, signage, and equipment assistance; supporting interactive stations such as youth workshops, art activities, and poetry slam; providing crowd management, participant support, and directional assistance; assisting partner organizations and vendors throughout the event; and participating in pre-event orientation and training sessions. With four large-scale events spread across several months, these staff members will help to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and well-coordinated community experience. Distributing responsibilities across 10 staff will ensure appropriate coverage and capacity while maintaining a welcoming and safe environment for all attendees.

Program Operating Costs
Community Event - Supplies 4 Events @ $673.15
Community Event - Mural Painting
Supplies 4 Events @ $500
Books for Book Reading 700 Each @ $5
Entryway Sculpture 1 Each @ $173,000
Subtotal, Operating Costs
Budget Narrative: Program Operating Costs are based off of estimated event and Esperanza Park Public Art costs.

Community Event - Supplies: This budget item will cover event materials not related to the Mural Painting activity. This will include costs such as creating and displaying temporary art displays (such as the Memory Lane art installation), information booth supplies, and flyers.

Community Event - Mural Painting Supplies: This budget item will cover supply costs not provided by the mural artist. This will include items such as materials for priming and sealing the mural wall, drop cloths, paint brushes for participants to use, and paper cups to hold paint while participants paint.

Books for Book Reading: This budget item will cover the cost of 700 copies of Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Copies will be available in English and Spanish so all children will have the ability to read the novel. A book reading will also take place during one of the events, hosted by local non-profit Read With Me.

Entryway Sculpture: This budget item will cover costs related to the Esperanza Park Entryway sculpture. Dream Homes Park residents' vision for the sculpture will come to life throughout the project.

Cathedral City staff will provide sculpture updates to the residents at each event, allowing them to select from finalist concepts and submit any additional feedback.

Marketing and Communications
Community Engagement Materials
and Supplies 1 Meetings @ $125 each
Mailers - Printing and Mailing 5 Mailers @ $300 each
Call for Artists and Bid Requests -
Mural and Sculpture 2 Calls @ $250 each
Subtotal, Marketing and Comms -
Budget Narrative: Marketing and Communications costs are based off of historical costs.

Community Engagement Material and Supplies: This budget line item will cover the costs for printing materials for the public meeting. It is estimated most costs will be negligible with the use of technology. However, paper copies of information packets will be provided for those wishing to take notes or save information and design concepts will be printed on posterboard so attendees can take a closer look.

Mailers - Printing and Mailing: This budget line item will cover the costs for printing and mailing informational postcards to residents. Residents will receive one postcard notifying them of the public meeting and four event notifications.

Subcontractors
Mural Creation 4 Events
Translator - Mailers 1 Meeting and 4 Events
S.C.R.A.P. Gallery Art Classes 4 Events
Mural Painting Event - DJ Will serve as MC at 4 events
Cathedral City High School Ballet
Folklórico 1 Event
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians Bird Singers 1 Event
Local Musician Fees Additional Entertainment
Subtotal, Subcontractors
Budget Narrative: Subcontractors costs are based off of historical and estimated costs.

Mural Creation: This budget line item will cover artist fees associated with designing and painting the mural. Over the course of four events, the artist will paint an outline and guide residents as they paint the mural.

Translator - Mailers: This budget line item will cover the costs associated with translating mailers. All mailers will be translated into Spanish prior to printing. This will ensure our mailers can be sent out in both English and Spanish, increasing access for our community.

S.C.R.A.P. Gallery Art Classes: This budget line item will cover the costs associated with S.C.R.A.P. Gallery's event booth. This will allow the Non-Profit to provide instructors, art materials, and educational materials at all four events.

Mural Painting Event - DJ: This budget line item will cover the costs associated with hiring a DJ to set up audiovisual equipment and act as Master of Ceremony for each event. Selected DJs will introduce local artists and performers, announce special activities, and will entertain during each event.

Cathedral City High School Ballet Folklórico: This budget line item will cover the costs associated with inviting Cathedral City High School Ballet Folklórico. They will be invited to perform during the Echoes of the Past event. The funds will help ensure the club can continue well into the future, sharing their cultural roots and teaching future generations the classical dance.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Bird Singers: This budget line item will cover the costs associated with inviting Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Bird Singers. They will be invited to perform during the Echoes of the Past event. The funds will help ensure the Bird Singers can continue performing well into the future, preserving the historical tradition.

Local Musician Fees: This budget line item will cover the costs associated with hiring additional local musicians. The Hope Rising Committee will reach out to local schools' Fine Arts departments and local artists. Selections will be made during the event planning period.

Other (Permits, insurance fees, travel,
etc)
Subtotal, Other
Budget Narrative:

Totals
Total Project Budget
Arts in California Parks | Local Parks Grant Program
Budget | 2025 Implementation Grant
City of Cathedral City
Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration
Arts in CA Parks Request Other Funding Secured
$ - $ 8,217.00
$ - $ 4,951.00
$ - $ 3,166.00
$ - $ 396.00
$ 8,629.00 $ -
$ 15,270.40 $ -
$ 23,899.40 $ 16,730.00
Budget Narrative: Personnel costs are based on the approximate time staff will spend during the project and their hourly rate with benefits.

Entryway Sculpture: This budget item will cover costs related to the Esperanza Park Entryway sculpture. Dream Homes Park residents' vision for the sculpture will come to life throughout the project.

Cathedral City staff will provide sculpture updates to the residents at each event, allowing them to select from finalist concepts and submit any additional feedback.

Budget Narrative: Marketing and Communications costs are based off of historical costs.

Call for Artists and Bid Requests: This budget line item will cover the costs for posting bids requests for the mural and the sculpture. Utilizing a centralized bidding program and social media will help ensure a wide selection of bidders.
$ 125.00 $ -
$ 1,500.00 $ -
$ 500.00
$ 1,625.00 $ 500.00
$ 50,000.00 $ -
$ 450.00 $ -
$ 2,000.00 $ -
$ 6,000.00 $ -
$ 500.00 $ -
Budget Narrative: Subcontractors costs are based off of historical and estimated costs.

Budget Narrative:
$ 1,000.00 $ -
$ 3,500.00 $ -
$ 63,450.00 $ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ - $ -
$ 98,167.00 $ 190,230.00
Arts in California Parks | Local Parks Grant Program
Budget | 2025 Implementation Grant
City of Cathedral City
Hope Rising: Esperanza Park Cultural Celebration
$ 98,167.00
Item Total
$ 8,217.00
$ 4,951.00
$ 3,166.00
$ 396.00
$ 8,629.00
$ 15,270.40
$ -
$ 40,629.40
Budget Narrative: Personnel costs are based on the approximate time staff will spend during the project and their hourly rate with benefits.

Entryway Sculpture: This budget item will cover costs related to the Esperanza Park Entryway sculpture. Dream Homes Park residents' vision for the sculpture will come to life throughout the project.

Cathedral City staff will provide sculpture updates to the residents at each event, allowing them to select from finalist concepts and submit any additional feedback.

Budget Narrative: Marketing and Communications costs are based off of historical costs.

Call for Artists and Bid Requests: This budget line item will cover the costs for posting bids requests for the mural and the sculpture. Utilizing a centralized bidding program and social media will help ensure a wide selection of bidders.
$ 125.00
$ 1,500.00
$ 500.00
$ -
$ 2,125.00
$ 50,000.00
$ 450.00
$ 2,000.00
$ 6,000.00
$ 500.00
Budget Narrative: Subcontractors costs are based off of historical and estimated costs.

Budget Narrative:
$ 1,000.00
$ 3,500.00
$ 63,450.00
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 98,167.00
$ 190,230.00
$ 288,397.00
Photograph |Video Release and Waiver Form 04.05.17 1 | P a g e

PHOTOGRAPH/VIDEO RELEASE AND WAIVER FORM
Date: ____/________/__________ Location: _____________________________________

_____________________________________

I hereby agree and grant irrevocable permission to the City of Cathedral City, its officials, employees, volunteers and affiliates, including their respective assignees, agents and licenses, to reproduce, encode, store, copy, transmit, publish, post, broadcast, display, publicly perform, adap t, edit, exhibit, create derivative works and/or otherwise use and reuse the photographs/video and/or images taken of me, in any media, including, without limitation, the internet, for any and all purposes.

I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve t he final photographs/video and/or images, including any printed or electronic matter that may be used in conjunction with them, now and at all later times, whether that use is known or unknown to me and hereby waive any right to royalties or any other compensation arising from or related to the use of the photographs/video and/or images. I further waive my right to pursue any and all claims, in law, equity or otherwise, arising from or related to use of the photograph/video and/or image.

Moreover, I here by agree to defend, and hold harmless the City of Cathedral City for any and all publishing and/or distributing of the photographs/video and/or images, in whole or in part, whether on paper, via electronic media, or on the internet, from and against any an d all claims, damages, or liability arising from or related to the use of the photographs/video and/or images, including, but not limited to, any misuse, distortion, blurring, alteration, optical illusion or use in composite form, either intentionally or o therwise, that may occur or be produced in taking, processing, reduction or production of the photographs/video and/or images, its publication or distribution, by the City of Cathedral City or any other individuals and/or entities.

I have read and understand the foregoing release and waiver and agree to its terms:

Printed Name: ___________________________________________Date: ________________________

Signature: ____________________________________________________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian if under 18 years of age __________________________________________

Cathedral City City CouncilSeptember 24, 2025

Cathedral City City Council
September 24, 2025