District Organization

The Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Act of the State of California requires public services to be logical, coordinated and orderly in development. The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Riverside County assisted the District in establishing an 1800-square-mile service sphere of influence and in complying with this Act (1984). Twelve years later the District was expanded and 30 square miles were annexed into current District services boundaries. In general, the District currently serves valley residents from Rancho Mirage (at Bob Hope Drive) east to the Salton Sea.

The District is organized into five service divisions with a five-person elected Board of Directors; each director represents his/her respective community area. The divisions and communities served are:

Division 1: Thermal, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Vista Santa Rosa
Division 2: Coachella
Division 3: Indio, Indio Hills
Division 4: La Quinta, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes
Division 5: Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Thousand Palms

The District is funded by various sources: program revenue, property taxes, benefit assessments, and other revenue. in 2006, the percent of these funding sources were:

Program Revenues: 34%
Property Taxes: 32%
Assessment Districts: 13%
Other Revenue: 21%

Download Desert Recreation District (Coachella Valley Recreation & Park District) 2006 Master Plan

An Introduction to the Desert Recreation District

Did you know?

The Desert Recreation District (DRD) was created in 1950.

DRD is governed by an elected board of directors.

DRD is the largest recreation district in California (over 1,800 square miles).

DRD has a population of more than 275,000 people.

DRD facilities, programs and activities serve more than one-million guests annually.

DRD employs approximately 50 full-time and between 175-250 part-time and seasonal team members.