Cathedral City hosts groundbreaking ceremony for Dream Homes Park

Cathedral City officially broke ground on a brand new park coming to the Dream Homes neighborhood.

The Dream Homes Park groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday morning at the intersection of San Diego Drive and Chia Place.

Mayor Mark Carnevale, Councilman Ernesto Gutierrez and project leaders were on hand to make remarks.

"This park is going to mean so much to these people it's going to bring them a sense of dignity, joy, and some kind of future that they could look forward to and their kids can grow up in a place that is safer," Guiterrez told News Channel 3.

The park is being funded by a California State Parks award of nearly $8.5 million.

Dream Homes is one of the oldest neighborhoods in both Cathedral City and the Coachella Valley, but according to Ryan Hunt, the communications and events manager for Cathedral City, it has been critically underserved and has endured many years without a park.  

Dream Homes Park will open to the public in 2025 and will sit on 7.5 acres. Features will include a central plaza and drop-off zone, children's play areas and equipment, shaded picnic and barbecue areas, a shaded outdoor fitness area, multi-use field, soccer fields, basketball courts and a large and small dog park.

The park will also eventually connect to the CV Link, a bike, pedestrian, and low-speed electric vehicle pathway through much of the Coachella Valley.