The Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved $1.12 million for infrastructure improvement projects in Cabazon and Thermal, where beautification features are planned, along with a new park.
A total of $959,700 will be allocated to the Cabazon Infrastructure Plan, while $170,000 will be dedicated to the Thermal Community Plan.
The board set aside $10 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year budget for the Unincorporated Communities Fund, which was established in 2020 with the goal of providing revenue streams for projects specifically benefiting “disadvantaged unincorporated communities.”
Money in the fund is designated for equal distribution between the five supervisorial districts. The earmarks benefiting Cabazon and Thermal were part of the set-asides for the Fifth and Fourth districts, respectively.
According to Supervisor Manuel Perez, the funds designated for Thermal will go toward development of a park.
“I look forward to working with the Transportation & Land Management Agency, nonprofits, the community of Thermal and the church where the park will be built … so we can do everything possible to make sure it’s from the ground up,” Perez said.
The funds designated for Cabazon will go mainly toward the “Cabazon Beautification Project,” according to documents posted to the board agenda.
“The project includes the planning, design and implementation of high visibility and low maintenance roadside features, including enhanced street name signs, roadside community sculptures and community entry monuments along Apache Trail, Bonita Avenue and Broadway Street,” documents stated.
The objective is to salute the community’s history and ensure the effort recognizes the area’s unique identity, officials said.
The timetable for construction work in either community was not provided.