Prescott Preserve
Enormously generous gift from Brad Prescott...
PRESCOTT PRESERVE
Palm Springs, California
- HOURS: DAWN - DUSK
- STAY ON TRAIL AT ALL TIMES
- LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ONLY ON MULTI-USE PATH
- BIKES ALLOWED ONLY ON MULTI-USE PATH
- STREET PARKING
- NO UNAUTHORIZED MOTORIZED VEHICLES - SCOOTERS, MOPEDS
- DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE WILDLIFE OR NATURAL RESOURCES
- NO DOGS INSIDE PRESCOTT PRESERVE
- NO BIKES, E-BIKES OR MOTORIZED VEHICLES
- NO DRONES
- NO LOUD MUSIC OR NOISE
- NO PICNICKING
- NO SMOKING
- NO FISHING, NO SWIMMING, NO BOATING
History
As was the trend in the 80s, this property was developed as a golf course with 600 condos surrounding it. As interest in golf started declining, the property changed hands several times. In the past five years the pressure for development of the golf course property started increasing and the property was being marketed as a location for condominiums. Thanks to an enormously generous gift from Brad Prescott, Oswit Land Trust was able to purchase the property in the summer of 2022 and OLT began the process of restoring it back to a beautiful nature preserve.
“I have always wanted to save land. When I met Jane and was introduced to Oswit Land Trust, I finally found a way that I could make my interest in saving land become a reality. Jane took me on a bike ride to show me the golf course properties and I immediately saw her vision. It will be incredible to see a beautiful nature preserve instead of construction and more houses.”
Acres of this property was formerly the Mesquite golf course, and is now being restored to a nature preserve. It came into OLT ownership thanks to a generous donation by supporter Brad Prescott.
Species of birds have been reported at The Prescott Preserve
Reminder of what
Prescott Preserve could have been...
LEFT: Picture shows Mesquite Village - Master Plan. Proposed site plan for development of 430 units in Mesquite Golf & Country Club.
RIGHT: Thanks to an enormously generous gift from Brad Prescott, Oswit Land Trust was able to purchase the property in the summer of 2022 and OLT began the process of restoring it back to a beautiful nature preserve.
Become a Friend of Prescott Preserve
Timeline
MAY 22, 2025The Wildlife Conservation Board approves $3,480,000 grant for Prescott Preserve - Ecological Restoration (Phase 1)
This grant aims to restore 28 acres of diverse desert valley floor habitat within Prescott Preserve, a 120-acre former golf course in Palm Springs. Phase 1 of the restoration project will focus on 15 acres of desert dry wash woodland, 11 acres of Sonoran creosote bush scrub, and 2 acres of perimeter buffer habitat. Read more here.
MAY 16, 2025The lawsuit between Mesquite HOA and OLT has been dismissed with prejudice.
FEBRUARY 26, 2025Mesquite HOA approves settlement with OLT
The Mesquite Country Club Homeowners Association board has approved a settlement agreement with Oswit Land Trust (OLT) over the Prescott Preserve, clearing the way for the preservation organization to receive a crucial grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board,
continue reading here.
NOVEMBER 26, 2024Oswit Land Trust, Mesquite HOA reach agreement in Prescott Preserve dispute
The resolution, announced in a joint statement Tuesday evening, came after eight hours of mediation. No specifics were available. Continue reading here.
NOVEMBER 12, 2024Oswit Land Trust files cross-complaint, claiming HOA interfered with preserve project, grant funding
In documents filed earlier this month, the land trust alleges the Mesquite Country Club Condominium Association failed to pay rent and sabotaged a conservation grant at a former golf course. Continue reading here.
OCTOBER 10, 2024City Council denies appeal of Prescott Preserve ruling, urges resolution of property disputes
The council’s decision allows Oswit Land Trust to proceed with restoration plans on land it owns, while ongoing disputes over leased parcels remain unresolved.
JULY 24, 2024Planning Commission greenlights amendment that allows Prescott Preserve project to move forward
The commission’s unanimous approval comes with conditions to address community concerns, including the addition of security and wildlife management requirements. Continue reading here.
FEBRUARY 15, 2024Prescott Preserve is featured in the New York Times article: “After Shutting Down, These Golf Courses Went Wild”
"Jane Garrison, the land trust’s founder and executive director, said the pending lawsuit is preventing the trust from accessing a multimillion dollar grant needed to properly restore the land. But of the trust’s five properties, the Prescott Preserve has quickly become the most popular." continue reading on www.nytimes.com
AUGUST 29, 2023$7.7 Wildlife Conservation Board Grant put on hold
Oswit Land Trust envisions the preserve evolving into a “central preserve” akin to Manhattan’s Central Park. To do that, OLT need the grant money, which will be used to clear the golf course of all non-native plants and turf grass to make way for native flora and fauna. The group must also remove or bury the golf cart paths and install public access paths and interpretative features. “Everything hinges on this grant,” Oswit Land Trust President Jane Garrison said in June. “We can’t do the restoration without that money.” Read The Palm Springs Post article here.
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MAY 30, 2023Prescott Preserve - The Restoration Plan
Tuesday May 30, 2023 at 6:00 PM we have organized online Zoom meeting to provide an update on the Prescott Preserve grant, project timeline, site plan, planting and design goals, objectives and more. Please take a look at our presentation below to learn more about what we have been up to…
SEPTEMBER 12, 2022$163,850 Planning Grant Awarded!
The California State Agency, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC) unanimously awarded grant for planning restoration of Prescott Preserve.
AUGUST 25, 2022HOA sues Oswit Land Trust, others, seeks to pause development of nature preserve
Residents of condominiums surrounding the decaying Mesquite Golf and Country Club golf course have named its new owners – Oswit Land Trust (OLT) — in a lawsuit seeking among other things to pause the development of a nature preserve on 180 acres OLT acquired in July. Read The Palm Springs Post article here.
JULY 26, 2022Mesquite Golf Course becomes Prescott Preserve
Jane Garrison, Executive Director of Oswit Land Trust and Brand Prescott announce that Mesquite Golf Course has been purchased and will be converted into nature preserve, called the Prescott Preserve. Read Desert Sun article here.
