We ve tried to meet that need by either building new facilities or offering more programs. Other valley cities and programs have felt a similar recreation crunch. Mark Woods, regional commissioner for American Youth Soccer Organization in La Quinta, said attendance has increased 50 percent just in the last four years. The league plays games at the La Quinta Sports Complex, which opened to city sports in 1990, but fields are already too crowded. A new city park, which will boast 12 more soccer fields and a skate park, is set to break ground in January 2002.
City planners see the new park as a necessary response to a growing trend.
But the demographics have shifted and we ve had to become more family friendly. Older, more established cities like Palm Springs have had to adapt by renovating aging park facilities and adding new features, like a planned skate park. But the youth population in the valley is increasing, and we needed to do something. Learning in a crowd At College of the Desert s Child Development and Training Resource Center, things get pretty hectic by mid-morning. Outside in the play area, dozens of children romp around the grass, swoosh down slides and explore the pint-sized playhouse.