Newsletter

Celebrating Desert Recreation District this Park and Recreation Month

Since 1985, America has celebrated July as National Park and Recreation Month. The month, designated by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is intended to highlight the essential role local park and recreational professionals play in our communities. Every year, NRPA selects a new theme for the month, and this year’s theme is “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation.” This July, the California JPIA is featuring one member agency that has helped its community to be stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient.

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Covering more than 1,800 square miles, the Desert Recreation District (DRD) is responsible for over 30 recreational facilities throughout the Coachella Valley, including community and fitness centers, sports fields, swimming pools, a golf course, a driving range, and 14 parks and open spaces. The district participates in the Community Wellness Hub model created by the NRPA. The Hub is a trusted gathering place that connects every community member to essential programs, services, and spaces that advance health equity, improve health outcomes, and enhance the quality of life for residents. With more than 315 employees, the DRD plays a vital role in the health and wellness of the Coachella Valley by administering over 1,000 programs, special events, and activities each year.

“The district is the regional source of premier parks in the Coachella Valley, and we work to provide barrier-free recreational opportunities that contribute to the overall wellness of the communities we serve,” said Barb Adair, Assistant General Manager of the Desert Recreation District.

The DRD is an exemplary member to showcase during Park and Recreation Month as it is both proactive and solution-oriented regarding managing risk. District staff members work closely with their California JPIA assigned Senior Risk Manager, Alex Mellor, to balance providing meaningful and accessible recreational opportunities to the community while protecting the district’s interests as much as possible. Together, District staff and Mellor have inspected parks and playgrounds to identify and mitigate hazards, assessed the risk involved with the potential acquisition of new open spaces, and revised participant waivers to reflect changes brought on by the pandemic.

“Desert Recreation District is a critical member of the Coachella Valley community,” shared Mellor. “It is relied upon to provide recreational opportunities for residents across the valley. This responsibility creates some unique and interesting risks which must be effectively managed. District staff members recognize the importance of partnering with the California JPIA to achieve the goals set by the DRD board, and the district continues to be an excellent partner in that regard.”

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