Thermal is a rural farmworker community of about 3,000 people in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Like other ECV communities, residents do not have basic social, cultural, and recreational infrastructure. Despite these challenges, Thermal is home to numerous young families who have a keen desire to improve their community and their environment. 

With support from The California Endowment, KDI and long-term partners Desert Recreation District will work with Thermal residents to kick off a community-led research and development project in early 2018. The design and programming process is expected to run through 2018, with construction slated to begin in 2019.

Once completed, Thermal will be the third Productive Public Space in the Eastern Coachella Valley Public Space Network.