Sports and Activity Partners

The Family YMCA of the Desert and Desert Recreation District each work with the City of Palm Desert to provide a wide variety of programs to the community. Please follow the links below to learn more! 

43-930 San Pablo Avenue,
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Phone: (760) 341-9622
Fax: (760) 779-9651

43-900 San Pablo Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Phone: (760) 568-9697
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Closed Sundays

The Portola Community Center was established in 1998 when the City of Palm Desert renovated the old County Library. The Center currently provides office space and community rooms for use by not-for-profit and community groups and small businesses.

Applications for use of the common community rooms are scheduled according to a six month calendar, which is reviewed and approved by the City. Please submit applications directly to the Center by using the contact information below.

The Portola Community Center is also the primary contact for information about sports fields and courts within the City of Palm Desert. For information about organized sports, field/court lighting, and other amenities, please contact the Center.

Contact:
45480 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Phone: (760) 568-2560

Pickleball

The following locations have pickleball:

• Freedom Park: 8 courts, open play 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., lights go off automatically at 10:00 p.m., closed 2^nd Friday of every month 5:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. for maintenance.


• Cahuilla Hills Park: 2 tennis courts lined with two pickleball courts each. Pickleball nets are not provided. Open play.


• Palm Desert Community Center: classes available; indoor courts are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., free with your facility use pass or $5/day drop in fee. Please visit the Desert Recreation District's website for more information or call (760) 568-9697.

Desert Willow Golf Course

In 1997, the City of Palm Desert opened Desert Willow Golf Resort. As a municipal golf resort, the City believes that residents should have the opportunity to enjoy Desert Willow's two championship courses at a reduced rate. For more information about the Palm Desert Resident Golf Card Program, please click here.

Community Gardens 

The Community Gardens are open to all Palm Desert residents and business owners, whether they are novices or master gardeners. Palm Desert’s Community Gardens provide residents with an opportunity to learn the joys and benefits of gardening. They are a place to share gardening experiences, make new friends, gather advice, and learn.

Palm Desert has five Community Gardens. Guadalupe, Santa Rosa, San Nicholas, and Catalina Gardens. They are located on the southwest side of San Pablo Avenue between Santa Rosa Way and Guadalupe Avenue. Freedom Park Community Garden is located at 77400 Country Club Drive in Freedom Park.

The Community Gardens Plots may be rented for a flat fee of $35.00 beginning September 1^st through July 30^th.  They are closed in August for maintenance. Applications for Gardening Season 2023-24 will be available online on September 1, 2023, on a first-come, first-serve basis. For questions regarding Community Garden Rental Application/Agreement, please contact Elizabeth Favela in the Public Works Department at publicworks@palmdesert.gov or by phone (760) 776-6444.

*Guadalupe Gardens will undergo renovations for the FY 23/24 season. In the event of an early reopening, priority will be given to those on the waiting list as of September 1st.

To reserve your garden plot, simply call (760) 776-6444 or (760) 346-0611, ext. 444, and leave your full name, contact details, garden name, preferred garden plot numbers (refer to attached map), and chosen payment method (credit card, check, cash).

Dog Parks

Reminder: Please keep dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length unless visiting one of the City's designated dog parks or off-leash areas.

The City of Palm Desert manages several dog parks. Each park has a section designated for large and small dogs. Small dogs are dogs that are 25 pounds or less.

• Civic Center Park
  • Dog park is 0.78 acres
  • Maintenance Schedule: W 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., M, W, F 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Joe Mann Park
  • Dog park is 0.33 acres
  • Maintenance Schedule: M, W, F 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

• University Dog Park
  • Dog park is 2.4 acres
  • Maintenance Schedule: M, W, F 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Freedom Park
  • Dog park is 0.22 acres
  • Maintenance Schedule: T, TH 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In addition to the City's dog parks, Homme Adams Park is a natural park with an off-leash dog area. If you have any questions regarding our dog parks, please call Public Works at (760) 776-7471 or email us at parks@palmdesert.gov.