HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-15 John Grounds - Public Comment_Redacted1 of 10
hu sday, Ap , 26 at 1:1 0Tr a A ril 16 20 a 9:4T r a A ril 16 20 a 9:4Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 1:19:40 P Pa ific Da l M c fi D y ight TimeM c fi D y ight TimePM Pacific Daylight Time
ub ctS jec :S jec :Subject:FW: La Quinta Resort & Club — Family Water Concept
a :D teD teDate:Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 9:06:50 AM Pacific Daylight Time
rF om:F om:From:Cheri Flores
:ToToTo:Consulting Planner
C:CCCCCC:Planning WebMail
ta hmentAt c m s:At c m s:Attachments:image001.png
Nicole,
See below.
Cheri L. Flores | Planning Manager
City of La Quinta
78495 Calle Tampico La Quinta, CA 92253
Ph. 760-777-7067
www.laquintaca.gov
From: John Grounds
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 8:11 PM
To: Planning WebMail <Planning@laquintaca.gov>
Subject: La Quinta Resort & Club — Family Water Concept
EXTERNAL: This message originated outside of the City of La Quinta. Please use proper judgement and cauRon
when opening aTachments, clicking links or responding to requests for informaRon.
Some people who received this message don't often get email from Learn why this is important
La Quinta Resort & Club — Family Water Concept (Refined)
You’re solving the right problem—increasing summer
occupancy—but the default approach (a visible 34-ft slide
tower feeding a big pool) risks cheapening the brand.
So the move is:
Keep the function. Completely elevate the presentation.
⸻
The Hard Truth (So You Don’t Miss It)
2 of 10
A fully exposed 34-ft slide tower reads:
•
“regional waterpark”
•
not “iconic desert resort”
That brings:
•
more kids, yes
•
but also noise, visual clutter, and lower perceived value
We want families without losing luxury.
⸻
The Right Concept
Rename it mentally:
Not a waterpark → “Desert Lagoon & Garden Towers”
This reframing will guide every decision.
⸻
The 34-Foot Structure (Keep It — But Disguise It)
What it should be:
A multi-level adobe tower complex, not a slide tower.
3 of 10
Think:
•
Bell tower
•
Old-world lookout tower
•
Layered, asymmetrical architecture
What happens inside:
•
Slides are internalized
•
Guests discover them, not stare at them
Design Rules:
•
Break height into stepped levels (approx. 20 → 26 → 34 ft)
•
Use:
•
plaster
•
wood beams
•
tile accents
•
Avoid visible plastic tubes
From the main pool:
Guests should see architecture, not rides.
⸻
4 of 10
The Pool System (Refining Your Cloverleaf Idea)
Your “cross / cloverleaf” instinct is strong. We evolve it into:
The Desert Lagoon System
Central Spine (Existing Pool Area)
•
Maintains adult elegance
•
Acts as visual anchor
Three Expanding Lobes (Age-Based Zoning)
⸻
Lobe 1 — Toddlers
•
6–12 inches deep
•
Sand-toned floor (beach feel)
•
Gentle fountains + trickle walls
•
Shade is essential
⸻
Lobe 2 — Ages 8–12
•
1–3 ft depth
5 of 10
•
Stepping paths
•
Low-profile slides integrated into stone
•
Interactive but controlled
⸻
Lobe 3 — Teens
•
Slide exits land here
•
Deeper water
•
Slight current channel (lazy river feel)
•
Feels separate from younger kids
⸻
Beach Entry (Keep This)
•
Wide, gradual slope
•
Parents can sit comfortably in water
This is a key selling point for families:
comfort + visibility + control
⸻
6 of 10
Slide System (Premium Approach)
Avoid multiple cheap slides.
Instead:
Slide 1 — “The Descent”
•
Enclosed, longer, smoother
•
Starts high in tower
•
Controlled, elegant ride
Slide 2 — “The Split”
•
Mid-height fork option
•
More playful, slightly faster
Exit Strategy:
•
Slides exit into different lobes
•
Prevents crowding
•
Keeps flow natural
⸻
Crowd Flow (Critical)
7 of 10
To avoid chaos:
•
Create a perimeter walking path (hidden in landscaping)
•
Separate:
•
slide entry
•
slide exit
•
general pool movement
•
Keep toddlers, teens, and service paths from crossing
⸻
Adult Experience (This Determines Success)
If adults don’t enjoy it, bookings won’t stick.
Include:
•
6–10 elevated cabanas
•
Quiet edge seating zones
•
Direct food & beverage access
Most important:
Sightline control
Adults can:
8 of 10
•
see their kids
•
but are not sitting inside the chaos
⸻
Business Impact
This isn’t just an amenity—it’s repositioning.
This design supports:
•
Increased summer occupancy
•
Higher room rates
•
Longer family stays
•
Increased:
•
cabana revenue
•
food & beverage sales
Versus a typical waterpark:
•
attracts volume
•
lowers brand value
You want:
9 of 10
fewer guests paying more, staying longer
⸻
Guardrails (Non-Negotiable)
Do NOT:
•
Expose the full tower visually
•
Use bright plastic slides
•
Overcrowd the design
•
Let kids dominate the main pool
Do:
•
Hide complexity inside elegant design
•
Use landscaping to break sightlines
•
Create a sense of discovery
⸻
The Guiding Sentence
If Walter H. Morgan walked through it, he should not say:
“Why is there a waterpark here?”
10 of 10
He should say:
“This feels like it grew out of the desert.”
Best regards,
John
The Desert Crows Band
https://desertcrowsband.com/