Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 2.C
Meeting Date: October 22, 2025
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Downtown Dog Park - Project Update October 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
The Downtown Dog Park project update for October 2025 is for the City Council's information and discussion only.
BACKGROUND:
In November 2022, the City Council approved an agreement with Verde Design, Inc. to prepare a conceptual design plan for the city’s Downtown Dog Park project. The project is located at the former Second Street Park site, adjacent to Fire Station 411 in the city’s downtown neighborhood area.
In March 2023, Verde Design, Inc. completed a conceptual design plan for the new park.
The conceptual plan repurposes the former Second Street Park site and outlines the layout of proposed park amenities including a dog park, restroom, parking lot, and pickleball courts.
This conceptual design served as the foundation in the solicitation Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/P) for professional design and engineering services for the park project, identified as the Downtown Dog Park project.
In October 2023, the City Council approved a professional service agreement with David Volz Design Creative (DVDC) formally known as David Volz Design, for professional landscape, architect, design, and engineering services for the Downtown Dog Park project.
In September 2024, city staff presented an update to the City Council and the Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) on the status of the Downtown Dog Park project as it transitioned from a conceptual plan to an engineering design plan. The update outlined several key modifications to the initial layout of park amenities and key features. These key modifications are as follows:
First, it was determined that the existing restroom should be demolished due to its significant structural deterioration. A cost analysis indicated that refurbishment costs would substantially exceed the expense of demolition and replacement with a pre-engineered building. As determined by city’s recent purchase and construction of a similar restroom building at Esperanza Park.
Second, the new restroom building was relocated to a more accessible location within the park. This relocation also created space for an additional pickleball court, increasing the total to five (5) pickleball courts, while maintaining dedicated fenced areas for both large and small dogs.
DISCUSSION:
Design Update
Since the last project update, DVDC and city staff have continued to hold meetings and discussions to evaluate design alternatives, meet project milestones, incorporate feedback from the City Council, and construction experiences with the recently completed Esperanza Park project.
DVDC submitted a 100% progress design submittal for city staff to review and comment.
Below is a summary of the items park amenities included in the project:
Fenced large and small dog park
oLarge dog park area approximately 10,000 square feet
oSmall dog park area approximately 8,000 square feet
Fabric shade structure over the large and small dog park sitting areas Benches
Drinking fountains with bottle filler and dog bowl
Restroom and concession building:
oFour (4) single all-gender restrooms with two (2) being ADA compliant oThree (3) restroom sinks – attached to exterior of the building oOne (1) traditional water drinking fountain with a bottle filler Five (5) pickle ball courts
Park lighting
Parking lot with ten (10) parking stalls
oTwo (2) ADA van accessible stalls
oEight (8) parking stalls
Security cameras and wireless internet (wi-fi) access
Park monument sign
Litter receptacle with integrated recycle bins
Drought-tolerant landscaping and trees
Underground drainage system
Park signage
A rendering of the park layout is attached to this staff for reference.
As of this 100% design submittal, DVDC’s estimated cost to construct the park is $4,350,000.
City staff are continuing to work with DVDC’s design team to make the necessary modifications to the plans and specifications of the project.
Staff would also like to note that the existing parking lot located southeast of the project site lies outside the boundaries of the city-owned parcel and project limits. The land on which the parking lot is situated is owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and will remain unmodified during project construction.
Grant Funding Opportunities
In 2019, the city constructed Fire Station 411, utilizing approximately 0.79 acres from the eastern portion of Second Street Park. At the time, the long-term implications of using this land were not clearly understood, and city records were either inconclusive or nonexistent regarding any restrictions tied to prior grant funding of the Second Street Park.
Following the most recent City Council update on the Downtown Dog Park project, the Council expressed support for pursuing grant funding to help offset construction costs. The Council also directed staff to confirm that Second Street Park was free of any encumbrances that might limit the City’s eligibility for state or federal grants.
In response, city staff—along with MVR Consulting (the city’s on-call grant consultant)—met with representatives from the Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), the grant administration division of the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks).
The purpose of the meeting was to verify whether any contractual or legislative restrictions associated with Second Street Park could impact future grant eligibility.
Following its internal review, OGALS confirmed that Second Street Park was originally funded through the 1976 and 1980 State Bond Acts, prior to the city’s incorporation. These bond acts require that land acquired or developed using bond funds be used exclusively for public recreational purposes, and any alternative use must be authorized through a specific act of the State Legislature.
OGALS further determined that Fire Station 411 does not qualify as a public recreation use under these provisions. As a result, the city is required to:
Seek legislative approval to formally authorize the change in land use, and Provide replacement parkland to offset the 0.79 acres lost.
The replacement land must:
Be equal to or greater in size than the land lost,
Not have been previously designated as parkland, and
Be dedicated for public recreational purposes.
City staff have identified several city-owned parcels that meet these criteria. Maps of the candidate parcels, including acreage, are included as an attachment to this report.
To initiate the legislative process, staff have initially advised the office of Assembly Member Greg Wallis that a request will be submitted that he serve as the legislative sponsor for the bill that would authorize the land use change and formalize the parkland replacement.
In addition, staff have noted that the final siting of the proposed Cathedral City Community Center could influence the selection of the replacement park location. State Parks staff have been advised of this dependency and remain in close contact, expressing urgency for the city to complete the necessary legislative and administrative steps.
City staff will continue to provide updates to OGALS as progress is made toward satisfying the bond act requirements and securing future grant funding opportunities for the Downtown Dog Park project.
Lastly, DVDC continues preparing Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) for the Downtown Dog Park project. City staff remain actively engaged in identifying potential funding opportunities to support project construction.
The Downtown Dog Park project update for October 2025 is for the City Council's information and discussion.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this Study Session meeting. Prior authorization from the City Council includes an encumbrance in the amount of $413,376 from the Parks and Recreation Facilities Fund (271) for the professional service agreement with David Volz Design Creative, for professional landscape, architect, design, and engineering services for the Downtown Dog Park project.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT CODE AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Park Facilities
Fund
271-500-510-
511-8601 C07016 $413,376 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Total $413,376
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B: Community Investment
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.
Action B-4: Complete design and seek funding to construct the downtown dog park and pickle ball courts.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. DVDC-Downtown Dog Park Rendering
2. Cathedral City Owned Parcel Map