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Embracing a New Vision

Photography by Brian Evans

La Quinta has embarked on a fresh path, marketing its strengths as a healthy and active city. This new vision for La Quinta builds on what city leaders have worked hard to accomplish over the past 25 years. The groundwork, especially in and around La Quinta Village, has been laid; and the city has an opportunity to embrace a comprehensive health and wellness initiative reflecting the elements that have become the cornerstone of its stature and popularity.

The health and wellness initiative is still emerging, although at first glance it seems as though La Quinta had already conceived it with adoption of the Healthy Eating Active Living campaign in 2010. As a HEAL city, La Quinta is committed to encouraging physical activity, healthy foods, and the infrastructure to support them. The city already offers an exciting range of healthy activities, community gatherings, special events, and cultural programs. However, the initiative is meant to expand the current direction toward health and wellness and capture La Quinta’s essence as a healthy, active, and captivating community — a place where people just feel better.

A central focus of the initiative will be on La Quinta Village, which provides a variety of commercial-related uses geared toward health and wellness and allows multifamily residential units such as condominiums and apartments. The Village is home to Old Town La Quinta, which welcomes popular events such as Art Under the Umbrellas, a certified farmers market, and the city’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The beautiful Civic Center Campus hosts the top-ranked La Quinta Arts Festival, as well as moonlight movies and organized exercise programs.

La Quinta is blessed with magnificent mountains that offer breathtaking views. Quality hiking trails, as well as paths for walking, biking, and horseback riding, create many opportunities for physical activity. Parks and golf courses are within the Village area or nearby, along with treasures such as the Fred Wolff Nature Preserve.

The La Quinta City Council recently discussed its vision for development in the Village, particularly concentrating on several city-owned parcels. City leaders welcome visionary, creative developers and businesses that will complement this special area. The Council desires to create a walkable community that encourages healthy and active living and has specific interests in a theater or entertainment venue. Council members also embrace multifamily residential development, as well as the concept of live/work housing. Opportunities are being explored, and preliminary conversations with developers are underway.

Also incorporated into the new vision is SilverRock Resort. This magnificent 525-acre, city-owned property is home to the nationally acclaimed Arnold Palmer Classic Course. In addition, the property includes a temporary clubhouse and driving range. Future plans for SilverRock include hotels, retail, a permanent clubhouse, and a second golf course. Embedded throughout the SilverRock development, a variety of amenities will be offered to complement the health and wellness initiative and the city’s continued advancement of active living.

The many beautiful parks and golf courses, senior center, library, museum, fitness center, and public pool are prime locations for hosting and promoting the initiative.

The epitome of health and well-being for La Quinta is the Humana Challenge (formerly the Bob Hope Classic). Much more than a PGA TOUR golf tournament, the Humana Challenge is a prime example of what the city will be hosting and promoting.

Humana, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, has joined forces with the City of La Quinta to bring healthy events to the community. This past January, the Humana Well-Being Walk, Humana Healthy Fun Fair, and Humana Day at Farmers Market attracted thousands of participants. During the Humana Challenge, SilverRock Resort does its part and offers a Walk the Rock program whereby golfers are encouraged to walk the course. Open to participants during Humana events is the new La Quinta Fitness Center, which had 45,000 users in its first year of operation.

Consistent with a “feel better” theme, the city’s Art in Public Places program has allowed for the display of stunning art pieces at public facilities, private developments, and transportation corridors. La Quinta Museum is certainly a historic resource and has become a place of community pride. Among its multitude of services, it displays traveling exhibits year-round. The current one, Creativity in the Cove, features the work of talented La Quinta Cove residents.

The health and wellness initiative is fresh and exciting for La Quinta. It involves attracting development, building partnerships, and a shared community vision. Ultimately, the city envisions a large, active playground and special gathering place for residents and visitors.

The past year has been an emotional one for the tight-knit community of La Quinta. Not only did the Gem of the Desert lose two of its brilliantly shining gems in late 2011, Council Member Stan Sniff and City Manager Tom Genovese, but it also lost funding with the statewide elimination of redevelopment agencies. However, as Winston Churchill wisely expressed, “Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it.” In that vein, La Quinta is embracing change and exploring new possibilities.