Palm Springs Cultural Center reminds people it’s still open despite COD campus construction
Kendall Flynn
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Cultural Center is sporting a new banner outside saying “open during construction,” despite construction taking away 300 parking spots. Now the cultural center is left with less than 20 spots, and has felt it’s impacts on visitor numbers.
“It’s harder than we kind of anticipated,” Michael Green, the executive director said. “A lot of customers are older…we have some handicapped parking but if those get filled up, then people have to park across the street.”
Across the street is Palm Springs High School, which won’t be available for parking in the fall, and for older visitors it can be a long walk across Baristo Road.
“That’s a lot to ask somebody to do,” Green said. “We understand that, but that’s just the reality.”
The College of the Desert has been expanding it’s campuses, including adding new educational opportunities in Palm Springs. The new campus is opening up along East Baristo Road, which is next to the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Green said they are looking forward to the campus addition as it will bring students with complimentary majors like film, digital arts and hospitality. But the construction is making it difficult to look forward to 2027 as they’re waiting for the parking lot to reopen.
COD reassured the cultural center its parking will be restored by Sept. 15th. It’s a deadline Green said is crucial as the parking at Palm Springs High School will no longer be available and they’re hosting their first major event days later.
“We open our first off season film festivals ‘Cinema Diverse,’ the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on Sept. 18th,” Green said. “So, we want for sure to have our parking back by then.”
Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from the Palm Springs Cultural Center on the construction impacts and what the public needs to know about attending events or movies.