Resilient Parks
by Sendy Hernández Orellana Barrows and Colin Barrows
The Coachella Valley is known for its breathtaking diversity of plants and animals. We are truly fortunate to enjoy and explore the protected landscapes around us.
And yet, the effects of climate change are remaking the landscapes around us, and our traditional tools for protecting species - preserves and national parks - may no longer be sufficient. To be stewards of our environment, we must find new solutions and reimagine our relationship with nature to include not only “wilderness”, but also our yards, gardens, and shared public parks.
Urban parks also represent an important resource for people to get outdoors, be physically active, meet with friends and family, and even for wildlife to thrive in the developed environment.
Indeed, iNaturalist shows 25,000 nature observations made outside of conservation areas in the Coachella Valley, representing 1,235 different species!
We also recognize that not all Coachella Valley residents have equal access to outdoor spaces. Resilient parks not only help to protect our environment, they also ensure that access to nature is Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive.
Parks have become even more valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as outdoor spaces have become relative safe havens, and travel has been limited to our immediate communities. Even after the pandemic ends, we expect this to be a continuing trend as the climate crisis deepens and the global community becomes ever more interconnected. Park design choices can lead to huge differences in their positive impacts on our community today, and also help us prepare for future environmental challenges.
To quantify these design choices, we have developed the Coachella Valley Park Resilience Rating, or CeeVeePuRR. The CVPRR consists of three scores:
Score One: Value
The first is the value score, which uses Google Maps listings to estimate how much people enjoy each park, factoring in the star rating and the number of reviews.
Top 10 Value Scores
Score Two: Environment
The next score is based on the park environment. We surveyed 52 parks throughout the Coachella Valley and counted the native plants growing at each one. Parks received points for each species, with bonuses for plants with extra benefits to pollinators, such as milkweed and chuparosa. Points were deducted for invasive species such as fountain grass and tamarisk. We also considered the size of each park, giving greater weight to parks with more space (and more room for habitat).
Top 10 Environment Scores
Score Three: People
CVPRR also considers people. Using census tract data, we determined the number of people living near each park, and factored in the amount of shaded space available, as well as specific innovative features we felt embodied the “resilience” of each park, such as bilingual signage, solar-powered LED lights, and fruit trees.
Top 10 People Scores
We combine the value, environment, and people scores to determine the total CVPRR. Here are the top parks we found:
Top 10 Resilient Parks
We specifically recommend:
Patton Park in Indio
Ironwood Park in Palm Desert
Ocotillo Park in Cathedral City
Wellness Park in Palm Springs
Not only are these great parks, but they set a great example of how we can build resilience for our communities in an uncertain climate future.
When you visit, remember to make a few iNaturalist observations while you are there! We hope CVPRR scores will encourage positive park design choices, and provide a road map for new and renewed parks in the Coachella Valley.
Thank you, and we’ll see you in the parks!
