|
|
|
|
|
Adapting to Covid-19
If you had told me a few years ago that we would be focused on the virtues of hand washing, the wearing of masks and the accumulation of toilet paper and hand sanitizer, I would have had trouble believing you, but here we are. Covid-19 came unexpectedly and impacted our lives in ways that we may not fully understand for years. (I may never understand the toilet paper part).
However, when hard times come, one must adapt and DRD did just that. The Desert Recreation District made sure to prioritize the safety of its work force, as well as its participants. By implementing new protocols, including the wearing of masks, social distancing, and enhanced hygiene, DRD was able to soldier through Covid without a single instance of workplace transmission of Covid!
This is core to the Desert Recreation District values and mission. We know the positive effect that parks, outdoor spaces, and community connections have on our wellbeing. The pandemic in many ways has shined a spotlight on just how essential our services are. During the pandemic, the District continued its commitment providing essential services for the community in many non-traditional, but effective ways.
Some examples include:
|
|
I take great pride in knowing that the District’s parks and programs have provided the respite needed to support families and individuals during this crisis. I am extremely proud of our team members that showed up and made a difference. Their creativity, commitment, flexibility and love of our community is unmatched. If the measure of an organization is how they handle adversary, I would say Desert Recreation District did an outstanding job at adjusting to these unforeseen circumstances.
Signing off,
Kevin Kalman
Desert Recreation District
General Manager
|
|
|
For those who don’t know where Oasis is located, it is a rural area located in the Eastern Coachella Valley, full of hardworking, tightknit families whose family members often work in the agricultural industry under the desert sun. Up until this point, infrastructure such as sidewalks, clean drinking water and a safe place where kids can play has been lacking.
However, this is all about to change. Phase One of Oasis Del Desierto (Oasis of the Desert) is nearing the end of construction and we will be hosting a grand opening on September 10th.
Desert Recreation District purchased the land in 2016, and immediately removed the debris that was onsite and built a temporary soccer field. Since then, we worked closely with the Oasis Leadership Committee and Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) to gather community input and create the “wish list” of park amenities residents would like included. We also worked to raise funds and we are grateful to all who have contributed to making this park a reality.
Phase One of construction includes a playground, a soccer field as well as outdoor exercise facilities. Community activities will be led by the food collective Antojitos Mexicanos Oasis, a childcare collective and disaster response program run by the Leadership Committee. Most importantly, the park will provide a much-needed place for kids to have fun and for locals to gather.
In addition to the construction of the park, the plan also involves an investment in local water infrastructure. The project will address water contamination issues in the area and bring clean and safe drinking water to over a thousand locals through the installation of a domestic water line along Aveue 76.
When this park is finished, it will truly be an oasis within Oasis.
|
|
|
Phase one of construction of Oasis Del Desierto is underway!
|
|
|
Kudos to the ASES Program!
Congratulations to the Ases program (Afterschool Education and Safety/Expanded Learning) for reopening in person learning in May. The program is now in its fourteenth year! The Desert Sands Unified School District operates the program in cooperation with DRD at twelve elementary schools and one middle school.
The ASES/ELP program is a free afterschool expanded learning program made up of two components. The first component is the academic support, which includes tutoring and homework assistance. The second component of the program, known as educational enrichment, offers sports, music, dance, and arts. A nutritional snack or meal provided.
Covid-19 has provided huge challenges for both teachers and students and we want to give them all a huge shout-out for rising to the occasion and to their commitment to learning under difficult circumstances.
“I am extremely grateful and appreciative to the ASES team for their flexibility, commitment and dedication to the students and school partners. It is truly inspiring to see how passionate and dedicated the team is to enriching and strengthening student’s educational growth. I am very proud to be part of such an excellent team," says April Doria (After School Recreation Coordinator).
|
|
|
Welcome DRD Board member Jonathan Becerra!
|
|
|
Jonathan Becerra grew up around the corner from the Desert Recreation District’s Indio Community Center. To him “The Rec”, as he called it growing up, was like an extension of his house. Jonathan and his sister Venessa would go to ‘the Rec’ every day after school, where he would attend the Tiny Tots program, while his sister did gymnastics.
Jonathan’s Mom was a single mother and the positive environment of “The Rec,” was an essential part of his upbringing. Community service was an important part of the Becerra family. “Early on as kids, that usually meant going to Mexico every summer; and taking clothes we had collected throughout the year,” Jonathan recounts.
This passion for giving back to the community continued throughout his young adult life. He worked on the development of the Indio Teen Center and was also a youth counselor at Safehouse of the Desert. Next, he took to grassroots community organizing. Then, in 2020, he was elected to the Desert Recreation District: Division 3 board, which covers “The Rec” that he grew up in.
Despite becoming a board member at a young age, Jonathan says “My age really never came to mind. However, I was lucky enough to have been raised by my mother. She never let me doubt my ability to do good. … I was, however, very aware that I would be running as the first openly queer candidate for this position. That awareness did test my sense of self and courage. But I ultimately ran.”
Advocating for the Eastern Coachella Valley is a major focus for him and he feels that DRD has done an excellent job at looking out for the community and credits organizations such as KDI in this effort as well. He feels it is important to not only talk to the Eastern Coachella Valley community, but even more important to listen and credits the community for their self-advocacy.
To this day Jonathan uses DRD facilities, cooling off by taking a swim at the Fritz Burns pool. On weekends, he meets up with his sister, and they visit hiking trails managed by DRD to go bouldering. Jonathan is a great example of how the Desert Recreation District can make an important, direct lifelong impact on people’s lives!
|
|
Support adaptive programming at the Desert Recreation District by signing up for the "Chase the Ace Motorcycle run". An epic day of motorcycles and poker! Get tickets here!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
