Explore Palm Springs

January 20, 1970 Park Dedication Set

Three man planning the dedication of Desert Highland Park on Saturday are, from left Charles Jordan, city administrative assistant; Floyd Enloe, superintendent of parks and golf course; and Thomas Essen, director of public works. Not shown is Howard Haddock, superintendent of recreation and special events, also on the planning committee. Mayor Howard Wiefels will officially dedicate the park, and John Sanborn, chairman of parks and recreation commission, will also address the group. Following the dedication the international "Up With People" group will sing for 20 minutes.  Refreshments will be served. The Park, featuring a grassed recreational field, basketball courts and a playground with equipment, is located at 480 Trawview Road. The dedication ceremony, open to the public will begin at 2pm.

Part:1 of the series

May 19, 1971 Barbeque For Teen Center

More than 100 people attended a benefit barbecue last weekend at Desert Highland Park sponsored by black youths. The event was held to raise money for a teen center in the Desert Highland Estates area. The idea for the teen center was devised by the Ad Hoc Community Action Group, of which Willie Mayfield is president. According to Mayfield, there is a great need for a recreation center for the youths in Palm Springs, "There are a lot of kids out there in the wind and sand and they don't have anywhere to go. There's nothing to do. The park isn't adequate. There aren't any windbreaks around the one basketball court,” he said. Expressing his view, Mayfield added. “I hear they’re going to build a new Angels field. I don’t see why they can't help us, too. ‘The barbecue went off without a hitch and the only real problem we had was the wind,” Mayfield said. Soul food, a baseball game and an Afro Fashion Show highlighted the afternoon. Dianne Clipper, Ola fea Mc Peters and Mary Stanley were named winners of the fashion show out of the 13 girls who participated. Among those in attendance were City Manager Frank Aleshire and City Community Relations Coordinator Gene House. Mayfield said that his group plans more fund raising events for the Teen Center, a dance at the Pavilion included, “If we can arrange it.” Discussing the questionable reputation of the “North End” in the rest of the city, Mayfield said, “A lot of the problems are over-emphasized. It is not the community as a whole there causing trouble but a few individuals.” As far as the Ad Hoc Community Action Group is concerned, Mayfield said, “Our goal is not to separate the people but to bring them together.”

IT'S A WINNER 

Dianne Clipper, 18, knows what it feels like to take first place after winning the Afro fashion show at Sunday s Benefit Barbeque held by the Ad Hoc Community Action Group. The picnic was organized at Desert Highland Park in the North End to raise funds for a teen center for the youth of Palm Springs. In the other photograph some of the people who attended the picnic were Gene House, Palm Springs Community Relations Director (second from left) with his wife; Garbey Sanders, L.A. County Job Procurment Office representative (third from left) and Willie Mayfield of the Ad Hoc Committee and a member of the Palm Springs Human Relations Commission.

Part:2 of the series