ATTACHMENT C
SUPERBLOOM PROJECT SUMMARY
1. Built Environment Initiative: Downtown Walkability,
Wayfi nding Enhancement and Community Well-Being Mural
Public Art Site: South Public Parking Structure Palm Springs, CA 92262 Project Title: Desert Superbloom (Phase I)
2. Blue Zones Built Environment Framework
The Blue Zones Built Environment pillar focuses on shaping streets, public spaces, and shared infrastructure so that healthy choices become the easy, everyday choice. Rather than relying on individual behavior change, Blue Zones emphasizes environmental improvements that encourage natural movement, improve safety, reduce stress, and strengthen social connection.
Built environment strategies prioritize walkability, visibility, human-scaled design, and emotionally positive public spaces, recognizing that how places feel directly in fl uences how people move, connect, and live each day.
Designing Places That Support Health, Movement & Belonging Encourage Natural
MovementImprove Safety & Visibility Reduce Stress & Enhance Emotional Health
Strengthen Community &
Social Connection
A Blue Zones Project
3. Desert Sand-Verbena California Poppy Desert Sunflower Desert Mustard Desert Popcorn Flower Desert Lily Local Desert Wild Flowers
The Downtown Desert Superbloom i n i t i a t i v e a p p l i e s B l u e Z o n e s b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t p r i n c i p l e s by transforming the south Palm Springs utilitarian parking structure into a people-centered landmark that support movement, safety, and connection. Inspired by native desert wild fl owers, this high-visibility design enhances pedestrian walkability, parking awareness, and improve the overall experience of downtown Palm Springs.
By activating previously overlooked infrastructure with large-scale botanical forms, the project promotes safer pedestrian behavior, discourages vandalism, and strengthens civic pride. More than beauti fi cation, Desert Superbloom functions as public wellness infrastructure, reinforcing belonging while celebrating the desert’s natural identity.
Phase I: Downtown Desert Superbloom Initiative
A Blue Zones Project
Desert Superbloom is a tool for urban improvement and way- finding through a botanically driven tribute to local flora. These flower murals are a visual expression of Palm Springs’ vibrant relationship with the desert’s past, present, and future. A Blue Zones Project + local flora names will be placed on each wall for visitor awareness.
Phase I: Three Wall Structure: South Garage
Desert Superbloom is a large-scale, three-wall mural inspired by native desert wild fl owers and the rare, fl eeting phenomenon of a natural superbloom. While the real superbloom appears only under perfect conditions, this mural translates that moment into a permanent, year- round expression of colorful, local fl ora in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, CA.
4. Desert Sunflower Desert Sand-Verbena California Poppy A Blue Zones Project
Why Here, Why Now
5. Nearby parking garages, including
this structure, operate at just 15–29%
capacity on weekends. Desert
Superbloom acts as a vibrant visual
landmark, drawing attention to
existing, underused parking
resources and helping rebalance
downtown traffi c fl ow through way-
fi nding. Locals and visitors alike can
say, “Park at the fl owers.”, and
encourage walking in this arts,
tourism and business district.
North Facing
Walkability & Solving
Parking Imbalance
27.5 ft.
12 ft.
In partnership with Palm Springs
Parks & Recreation, this Blue Zones
Project includes a community
engagement component, inviting
youth and community members to
participate in painting supervised
mural elements. This experience
introduces community members to
civic collaboration and public art,
while fostering pride, stewardship,
and deeper connection to downtown
Palm Springs.
West Facing
Community Pride & Impact
30 ft.
12 ft.
By investing in a professionally
executed mural by local artists,
these public parking structure walls
are reclaimed for our local and
visitor community, reducing
repeated vandalism, lowering long-
term maintenance costs, and
signaling positive pride, emotional
health, vibrant color, and care for
our shared spaces.
South Facing
Curbing Vandalism
45 ft.
12 ft.
A Blue Zones Project
6. Proposed Investment: $24,000
This multi-surface mural spans three walls of
the South Garage, transforming underutilized
infrastructure into a cohesive, highly visible
pedestrian landmark that supports walkability
and community well-being.
Phase I: Mural Pricing Overview
+ Community Activation
In partnership with Palm Springs Parks &
Recreation, SUPERBLOOM will lead a public
painting activation, inviting community
participation in bringing the mural to life.
Built Environment Impact
• Establishes visual identity, reinforcing downtown as a walkable, human-scaled environment. • Enhances visibility and awareness in a high-traf fi c, downtown zone. • Contributes to traf fi c calming perception and improved safety con fi dence. • Activates overlooked space to reduce vandalism and increase shared ownership. • Elevates everyday experience of moving through downtown through nature-inspired design.
A Blue Zones Project
Desert Superbloom encouraging movement & active transportation Desert Superbloom enhances safety and encourages human-scaled streets Desert Superbloom fosters community connection and belonging Desert Superbloom elevates public spaces into vibrant, healthy places to live Rather than just beautifying space, well-designed murals contribute to the experience of place. They signal that the area is a destination for connection, movement, re fl ection, and social exchange, mirroring Blue Zones’ emphasis on environments that support healthy living in all aspects of daily life.
Colorful, visually engaging public art creates destinations that invite walking, gathering, and exploration. By transforming what would otherwise be neutral or auto-centric areas into spaces that draw pedestrians, the mural supports the walkability and active movement Blue Zones champions.
Art on public surfaces has been shown to slow traf fi c, increase visibility, and reduce accidents, making public spaces feel safer and more welcoming. This directly supports Blue Zones goals around street connectivity and community safety.
SUPERBLOOM murals can be co-created with community, inviting local participation and co- ownership. This kind of engagement builds social networks, strengthens resident ties to place, and drives the kind of communal interaction Blue Zones seeks to cultivate through built environment work.
Built Environment Impact: Supporting Blue Zones Goals
7.A Blue Zones Project