Palm Springs, CA
After two years of litigation, Oswit Land Trust (OLT) and the Mesquite Country Club Homeowners Association (MCC) have announced an agreement in principle to resolve their dispute over the future of the former Mesquite Golf & Country Club. The property, now known as Prescott Preserve, is set to become a nature preserve, marking a significant step toward the project’s realization.
In a joint statement released Tuesday, the parties confirmed the resolution was reached following eight hours of mediation led by mediator David Chapman. Specific details remain undisclosed as the mediation documents are still being finalized.
“Both MCC and OLT are looking forward to putting their disputes behind them and working to create a spectacular nature preserve in the heart of our community that everyone will enjoy now and in the future,” the statement read.
The dispute, which began in 2022, centered on concerns raised by MCC regarding the legally binding covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) of the community. The HOA argued that converting the golf course into a preserve violated requirements for the continued operation of an 18-hole golf course.
Oswit Land Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring closed or struggling golf courses to natural desert habitats, acquired the property through the Prescott Foundation in July 2022. However, the legal battle with MCC posed a significant hurdle, including delaying access to a $7.2 million grant from the California Wildlife Conservation Board for restoration efforts.
Despite the ongoing litigation, the Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously in October to deny appeals against the project, allowing OLT to move forward with its plans.
The recent agreement paves the way for collaboration between OLT and MCC to transform the site into a vibrant nature preserve for the Palm Springs community. As mediation documents are finalized, more details are expected to emerge. For now, both parties have declined further comment.
This milestone reflects years of effort by OLT to reclaim urban spaces for conservation, ensuring that Prescott Preserve will soon serve as a sanctuary for wildlife and a resource for the future.