Community Projects
Mecca Boys and Girls Club - Groundbreaking April 12
Supervisor John J. Benoit joined county officials, community leaders, and representatives of the Boys & Girls Club of Coachella Valley at the groundbreaking of the Joel E. Smilow Clubhouse, in a ceremony held in Mecca on Monday, April 12 at 3:30 p.m. The site is located at 91-391 Avenue 66, adjacent to the Mecca Family Service Center and Community Health Clinic and across the street from the Mecca Library and Sheriff Substation.
“This new clubhouse will be an outstanding resource for the Mecca community, especially with its young population,” said Fourth District Supervisor John J. Benoit. “Providing computer access and a safe environment for children to study and learn teamwork will equip them for success in life.”
The 30,636 square-foot clubhouse will include a teen center, cyber café, exercise and weight room, gymnasium, community meeting room, homework center, boxing ring, and interior courtyard for outdoor activities and outdoor basketball courts. The design of the facility will incorporate many features detailed in the Mecca Design Guidelines such as Spanish roof tiles, decorative paving, covered walkways, and lush but drought-tolerant landscaping.
Funded by $6,203,450 in redevelopment monies, the project is expected to be completed in April 2011.
Roy Wilson Community & Child Care Center - Ribbon-Cutting September 1, 2010 10 a.m.
Supervisor John J. Benoit will join county officials and community leaders at the ribbon-cutting of the Roy Wilson Community & Child Care Center at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The location is 13341 Mesa Drive, eight miles west of the City of Blythe.
“I am pleased to see the completion of this latest piece in the Mesa Verde Improvement Project, which has also brought a new water system and paved roads to the community,” said Supervisor John J. Benoit. “I am positive the facility will be a center for important services in the community.”
The 5,937-square-foot building will be divided into a community and child care center. The Renu-Hope Foundation will provide child care services for newborn through preschool ages.
The project cost $2.3 million to construct. The community center features solar panels and energy-efficient windows to reduce the center’s future operational costs as a cool center and venue for public meetings.
Light refreshments will be provided at the ceremony.
Thermal Aviation and Education Center – Ongoing
This project is an approximate 15,000 square foot building with two 12,000 square foot hangers attached that will provide space for the Palm Springs Air Museum, the Boys & Girls Club Aviation Program, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the Civil Air Patrol and the Sheriff’s Aviation Explorers. There will be classrooms and offices, a library and ancillary facilities for restoration, and repair of museum aviation exhibits and instruction in aviation related topics.
On the same site will be a Sheriff’s Aviation Unit which will house the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Division for Eastern Riverside County. It will have a 12,000 square foot hanger, a helipad, and an approximate 7,000 square feet of office and aviation maintenance space. There will also be a taxiway from this facility to the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport and a 12,000 gallon AV fueling station. The project site is immediately to the south of the Thermal Sheriff’s Station site.
Mecca Senior Center - Acquisition 73% Complete
The preferred site for the Senior Center (Hammond and Avenue 66) has been 73% acquired and there is a very conceptual, draft site plan. The relocation of businesses and residents continues and demolition of existing structures is underway.
COMPLETED
Bermuda Dunes Community Service Center – Dedicated January 14, 2010
On January 14, 2010, Supervisor John J. Benoit and county officials dedicated the Bermuda Dunes Community Service Center (78-400 Avenue 42), a 2,344-square foot building includes office space for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and Code Enforcement, as well as a general community room named in honor of Roy Wilson. The community room allows for public meetings to be held in Bermuda Dunes.
Indio Hills Community Center – Dedicated May 2009
In May 2009, the $1.72 million community center located adjacent to the community park at 80-400 Dillon Road was dedicated and immediately put to use to host the first Indio Hills Community Council meeting. The community center features a large multi-purpose room, restrooms, kitchen and storage space, and green design. The facility includes photovoltaic power, passive solar design and many other design elements which make the new building very eco-friendly.
Mecca Community Library and Sheriff Station – Completed February 2008
The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) constructed an 11,000 square foot facility which houses the Mecca Library, a sheriff's substation and the offices of the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District. Construction was completed in February 2008. This project constitutes an expansion of services designed to meet the growing needs of the community. The Redevelopment Agency for the County of Riverside funded the entire $5.3 million project as part of a Riverside County bond issue. The facility is located on a 0.75-acre site on the northeast corner of Date Palm Street and Avenue 66 in Mecca.
North Shore Beach Yacht Club & Community Center – Grand Opening May 1, 2010
Supervisor John J. Benoit joined county officials and community leaders at the dedication and grand opening of the North Shore Beach & Yacht Club Community Center and Salton Sea History Museum held on Saturday, May 1 at 10:00 a.m. The center is located by the Salton Sea on 99-155 Sea View Drive in North Shore. Free to the public, the opening featured a barbeque and live entertainment.
“In its heyday, the ‘California Riviera’ was a major relaxation destination for boaters, fishers, water skiers, and wind surfers,” said Supervisor John J. Benoit. “This renovated landmark is one step in our efforts to revitalize the Salton Sea and bring back recreational events to these shores.”
The 6,500 square-foot, 50-year-old North Shore Yacht Club structure completed a $3.5 million renovation, adding a senior center, museum, visitors center, juice bar, and multipurpose rooms. Additionally, the facility also includes two offices, an archive room, kitchen, indoor and outdoor restroom facilities, a children’s playground, and multi-purpose outdoor patio space.
Designed by renowned architect Albert Frey, the building was host to many Hollywood celebrities who kept boats and entertained at the club. On September 1, 2009, the Board of Supervisors designated the site as a Riverside County Historic Landmark. The project went through a historic rehabilitation pursuant to environmental requirements, requiring the project to engage an architectural historian who verified compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic rehabilitation throughout the design and construction process.
The Desert Alliance for Community Empowerment operates the renovated building, which is home to meetings of the North Shore Community Council.
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Ripley Migrant Farm Worker Housing - Completed October 2008
In 2005, the Housing Authority received ownership and authorization from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development to convert an existing 100 unit migrant farm worker center located at 24-501 School Road in Ripley into a 76-unit year-round residential community. By October 2008, the existing center was completely rehabilitated, with the help of a $3 million Joe Serna Farm Worker Housing Grant and a $8.5 million RDA Grant.
Thermal Jerry C. Rummonds Memorial Community and Senior Center – Rededicated March 9, 2010
On March 9, 2010, Supervisor John J. Benoit and community officials rededicated the Jerry C. Rummonds Memorial Community and Senior Center in Thermal (87-299 Church Street). The 30-year-old center recently completed $210,000 in upgrades in order to improve accessibility and increase energy efficiency. The center received a new façade, new water wise landscaping, roofing repairs, air conditioning system, repainted interior walls, and new carpet and paint in the community center room.