Draft:Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs

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Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs
AbbreviationONE-PS
Formation2005
TypeNonprofit organization
Legal status501(c)(4)
PurposeNeighborhood advocacy and civic engagement
HeadquartersPalm Springs, California, U.S.
Membership52 neighborhood organizations (2025)
Chair
Chris Ruetz (2025)
Websitewww.one-ps.org

Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS) is a volunteer-run nonprofit coalition, classified as a 501(c)(4), of legally recognized neighborhood organizations in Palm Springs, California.[1]

ONE-PS was established in 2005 by the Palm Springs City Council. It serves as a coordinating body through which neighborhood organizations communicate with city government. As of 2025, the ONE-PS comprises representatives from 52 neighborhood organizations across the city.[2]

History

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In 2005, the Palm Springs City Council created the Office of Neighborhood Improvement and began formally recognizing neighborhood groups as part of an initiative to increase citizen involvement in local government.[3][4] The program initially operated as the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC),[4][5][6] which started with eight neighborhoods on the committee.[4][5]

Over the following decade, the number of certified neighborhood organizations grew steadily. By 2012, there were 32 recognized neighborhoods.[5] In 2015, on its 10th anniversary, PSNIC was renamed Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS) through an amendment to chapter 2.55 of the City's Municipal Code, and became its own legal entity.[7] The change reflected the organization's broader scope and unified structure.[4] By January 2022, ONE-PS encompassed 50 recognized neighborhoods, a figure that continued to rise to 52 by 2024.[3]

ONE-PS is a member of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA), which is a national nonprofit with a mandate of supporting neighborhood organizations.[4]

Organization and relationship with the city

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ONE-PS operates as a network of neighborhood-based organizations, each of which selects one voting representative (and an alternate) to participate in the ONE-PS council.[8] These representatives meet monthly to share information, discuss community concerns, and advise the City on issues affecting their neighborhoods.[8]

The organization is an autonomous legal entity, independent of the City government, but works in close partnership with the City of Palm Springs’ Office of Neighborhoods, which serves as a liaison and provides support for neighborhood engagement initiatives.[3] ONE-PS is governed by an elected board of volunteer officers drawn from the neighborhood representatives.[9]

Activities

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ONE-PS and its member neighborhoods undertake different civic activities and programs. Since 2008, the organization has hosted an annual ONE-PS Picnic & Community Expo, a citywide event featuring informational booths, entertainment, and community outreach. The 16th annual expo was held on March 22, 2025 with participation from local businesses, city services, and community groups.[10][11]

The "blade sign" for the El Rancho Vista Estates neighborhood

ONE-PS also spearheaded a neighborhood identification blade sign program in partnership with the city, installing distinctive signs that mark the boundaries of each officially recognized neighborhood.[12]

The organization produces the ONE-PS Guide to Palm Springs Neighborhoods, a periodic publication profiling the history, architecture, and amenities of the City’s neighborhoods.[13] In 2017, the guide earned a first-place award in Neighborhoods USA’s national publications competition.[13]

Member neighborhoods, through ONE-PS, have organized community improvement projects such as volunteer clean-ups,[4] "little library" book exchanges,[14] and public safety initiatives in cooperation with the Palm Springs Police Department.[15]

Color guard leads the way during black history parade

The organization also participates in citywide events and celebrations to promote community pride and inclusion, including the annual Black History Month Parade and Fair, Veterans Day Parade, and the Palm Springs Festival of Lights holiday parade. The group has also partnered with local events such as Modernism Week, offering guided tours of historic Palm Springs neighborhoods to present information about the city’s neighborhoods and their historical development.

Recognition and impact

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City officials have stated that ONE-PS provides a channel for neighborhood input and volunteerism.[16]

In 2019, Palm Springs hosted the national Neighborhoods USA conference, "Opening Doors to the Future," following a bid led by ONE-PS in collaboration with city partners.[15] The 2019 NUSA conference brought roughly 1,000 delegates from across the country to exchange best practices on neighborhood development and to tour Palm Springs’ neighborhoods as case studies.[15]

ONE-PS has received recognition from NUSA for several of its programs and initiatives:

  • 2019 – Black History Parade & Fair. Finalist in the "Neighborhood of the Year" awards, in the category of "Social Revitalization - Single Neighborhood"[17]
  • 2017 – ONE-PS Guide to Palm Springs Neighborhoods. 1st place in the "Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition" awards, in the category of "Non-Profit Agency Printed"[18]
  • 2016 – Clinton Day of Action Orchard Planning and Beautification. 3rd place in the "Best Neighborhood Program Award", in the category of "Physical Revitalization"[19]
  • 2015 – ONE-PS Guide to Palm Springs Neighborhoods. 3rd place in the "Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition", in the category of "Electronic Division"[20]
  • 2014 – Annual Neighborhood Picnic & Community Expo. 3rd place in the "Best Neighborhood Program Award"[21]
  • 2014 – Identification Blade Sign Program. 4th place in the "Best Neighborhood Program Award"[21]
  • 2014 – Los Compadres Neighborhood Organization. Gold in the "Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition", in the category of "Electronic Format"[22]
  • 2014 – Tahquitz River Estates Neighborhood Organization. Gold in the "Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition", in the category of "Electronic Format"[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Who We Are – Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs". ONE-PS. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Office of Neighborhoods | City of Palm Springs". www.palmspringsca.gov. Archived from the original on 2025-06-14. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  3. ^ a b c Kleinshmidt, Janice (2023-02-28). "The People Who Made Palm Springs". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Goolsby, Denise. "Longtime Palm Springs employee Lee Bonno brought neighbors together". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  5. ^ a b c Grattan, Sheila (2013-05-01). "Palm Springs 75th Anniversary - Palm Springs' Historic Neighborhoods". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  6. ^ "ONE-PS Monthly Meeting". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  7. ^ "City of Palm Springs Municipal Code, Chapter 2.55. Office of Neighborhoods". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  8. ^ a b "Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS)". City of Palm Springs. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  9. ^ "ONE-PS Bylaws". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  10. ^ "ONE-PS Picnic & Community Expo". Engage Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  11. ^ Chiel, Eric. "Valley Voice: Looking to better Palm Springs? Join ONE-PS and make your voice heard". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  12. ^ "Neighborhood Identification "Blade" Signs". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  13. ^ a b Peters, Erin (2017-06-23). "ONE-PS Guide to Palm Springs Neighborhoods". Palm Springs Life. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  14. ^ Staff, Post (2024-06-20). "Where to find those little book-sharing boxes throughout Palm Springs ⋆ The Palm Springs Post". The Palm Springs Post. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  15. ^ a b c "City of Palm Springs Awarded National Neighborhood Conference in 2019" (PDF). ONE-PS. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  16. ^ "Residents invited to annual ONE-PS Picnic & Community Expo, Saturday, March 23". City of Palm Springs. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  17. ^ USA, Neighborhoods (2020-06-01). "2019 Neighborhood of the Year - Neighborhoods USA". Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  18. ^ USA, Neighborhoods (2017-06-01). "2017 Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition - Neighborhoods USA". Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  19. ^ USA, Neighborhoods (2016-06-01). "2016 Best Neighborhood Program Award - Neighborhoods USA". Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  20. ^ USA, Neighborhoods (2015-06-01). "2015 Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition - Neighborhoods USA". Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  21. ^ a b USA, Neighborhoods (2014-06-01). "2014 Best Neighborhood Program Award - Neighborhoods USA". Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  22. ^ a b USA, Neighborhoods (2014-06-01). "2014 Best Neighborhood Newsletter Competition - Neighborhoods USA". Retrieved 2025-09-06.