New North Palm Desert Park to Feature Pickleball Courts, Splash Pad, and More

A new 27-acre park is officially coming to north Palm Desert, and it’s serving up something pickleball players will love: four new courts built with wind abatement features. Dave Erwin Park, located near Dinah Shore and Gerald Ford Drives, will also feature basketball courts, a splash pad, a community garden, dog parks, walking paths, and outdoor fitness equipment. Approved unanimously by the city council, construction is set to begin in March 2026 and will take about 16 to 18 months to complete. With thousands of new homes being built nearby, this park is part of Palm Desert’s big plan to grow alongside its community — and, let’s be honest, to keep everyone properly caffeinated on sunshine, bocce ball, and dinking drills.

The design of the park reads like a “greatest hits” list for anyone who enjoys moving, lounging, or pretending to do both: multi-sensory children’s play areas, interconnected walking paths, splash zones for cooling off, and even surface parking for 282 cars. More importantly, pickleball players will finally get a spot to show off their drop shots without the usual desert gusts ruining a perfect third shot drive. If you’ve been tired of driving out of town just to find a decent court, this park might quickly become your new local favorite — and your dog’s too, given the addition of separate large and small dog parks.

While the $19 million construction budget might sound steep, Palm Desert has wisely earmarked most of it in their upcoming fiscal plans, with grant opportunities also in play. Plus, Dave Erwin Park isn’t a one-off — it’s part of a bigger movement to turn north Palm Desert into a vibrant hub of community spaces. A new fire station and discussions around a larger regional sports park are also heating up. Translation: if you’re a pickleball player living nearby, you might want to start practicing your humble brags now, because your neighborhood courts are about to be the envy of the valley.