The Perkins family was catching a few rays of sunshine at Palm Springs International Airport before heading back to Sitka, Alaska
Jessica sat on the grass. Her husband, Kim, leaned against a tree. Daughters, Zen and Aani, climbed on a jungle gym. "The grass feels good." Jessica said, minutes before they boarded an Alaska Airlines flight to conclude a two-week stay in Palm Desert. "It's better than sitting on sand. Plus, we're not going to see grass like this for awhile."Word was, the seaside city is buried in four feet of snow - with more on the way.For the airport commission -- which is bracing for a City Council vote tonight to appeal a Planning Commission recommendation to inject more desert landscaping into the setting -- the Perkins' could have been the airport's poster family. "I think desert landscape makes sense,'" Jessica Perkins said. "But I don't think you should eliminate all the grass. I think you have to look at the experience, as well as traveler comfort." This is the airport's point, exactly.Al Smoot, who is coordinating the landscaping project, said the grassy patch between the main entrance of the airport and its concourses is heavily used by travelers."It's where the passengers wait," he said, noting it is important to keep in some degree as it is a major marketing tool.The controversy is the landscaping plan of choice is lush, tropical and will guzzle precious water. The grassy area, also in jeopardy, has been reduced from three-fourths of an acre to one-third of an acre.If the grass design is kept, some are suggesting, it be installed as artificial turf.But airport commissioners on Wednesday concurred that the flora and fauna factored into their preferred schematics is suited to the desert, require little water and are easy to maintain. Plant selections include the Palo Verde tree, pigmy date palm, agavi, carissa boxwood, hybiscus murrata exotica, star jasmine, bird of paradise and citrus tree. Artificial turf would not be feasible, they agreed, for hygiene reasons and the heat: This turf would become too hot to lay on in this desert climate . It would have to be disinfected three to four times a year. Smoot said the citrus is poised for a comeback for two reasons. The citrus trees were planted here originally, and pilots and passengers picked them clean. "It's an integral marketing tool," Smoot said, recapping that passengers who carried a giant grapefruit off a plane that landed in Boston in the dead of winter were often asked, "Where'd you get that from?"Costs for the landscaping and water features stand at about $1.2 million.The Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee has asked for more native plants to create the oasis feel of the airport. And the Planning Commission has advised a mid-century modern approach to reflect the airport's architecture. Smoot also noted that the airport was one of the first in the valley to introduce desert landscaping, pointing to the berm on Kirk Douglas Way which was built 11 years ago, and 25 acres of airport land he described as having "pure desert" landscaping. An airfield area, which most airports maintain with grass and pavement, instead contains broken, natural rock. City Manager David Ready said he's not sure what will shake out of tonight's meeting, but he thinks paring down the grassy area to one-third of an acre represents a good compromise."My recommendation is that we are able to move forward with the project," he said. "The council will give us direction tonight on how to do so. My goal is to get the project moving."
What do you think?
David
Have a great one,
Don