The new 7.5-acre park opening next year in Cathedral City’s Dream Homes neighborhood will be called Esperanza Park.
Esperanza Park was previously called Dream Homes Park, but that was just a placeholder and intended for the city’s use in grant paperwork. The city council unanimously approved the final name for the park on Wednesday. ‘Esperanza’ means hope in Spanish.
The park is located east of North Gene Autry Trail and north of the Home Depot shopping center on Ramon Road. Cathedral City held a groundbreaking ceremony for the space in April, and construction is expected to be completed by March 2025.
The project is funded through an $8.49 million grant that California State Parks awarded the city as part of a program that aims to build parks in underserved areas.
How was the name chosen?
A subcommittee of the Parks and Community Events Committee has been trying to reach residents in the Dream Homes neighborhood to get their input on the park’s name. This included walking around the neighborhood and sending out a mailer.
Students from Agua Caliente primary school also gave suggestions through an assignment.
Esperanza Park was the most popular name, followed by Cathedral City Park, Agua Caliente Park and Dream Homes Park.
The committee ultimately proposed three names for council approval, in order of preference: Esperanza Park at the top of the list, then Cathedral City Community Park and finally Pathway Park.
Why choose Esperanza Park?
During public comment, Evett PerezGil said the park is something the community has long hoped for, and it deserves a name that shows their resilience. PerezGil is a member of the Dream Homes community and a representative of the area’s Desert Healthcare District.
“I think it would mean a lot to the community if it were called Esperanza Park, because it’s something that comes from all the generations of the people who have lived there… (who) have had struggles, who have (come forward) ), who have lost their people due to gun violence or other things,” said PerezGil. “This is something they want, and hope comes full circle. Through the hope of a community that has been able to stick together and build resilience.”
Erin Hyland, chair of the Parks and Community Events Commission, said the commission spent a lot of time and effort thinking about the name.
“When you hear that Cathedral City is the place where art lives, and now with this park – Esperanza Park – it is also the place where hope lives,” she said.
Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at ani.gasparyan@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Cathedral City’s newest park has a name packed with meaning
