Wonder Valley
Community Action Guide
In 2016, the County embarked on a planning process to update the fourteen existing Community Plans and create over 30 new plans for approximately 80 unincorporated communities. The strategic system of community planning is called the Community Planning Continuum with a continuum of plan-types to provide planning tools and resources to match local conditions and needs. The plan-types are Detailed, Framework, Foundation and Fundamental.
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Our Community
Learn about who we are, our values, and more.
Go to Our Community -
Our Aspirations
Learn about our aspirations for the future of the community.
Go to Our Aspirations -
Action Plans
See the actions we'd like to take to realize our aspirations.
Go to Action Guide
Wonder Valley is a community within the Morongo Basin, east of Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. After homesteaders acquired land following the 1938 Small Tracts Act, hundreds to thousands of homesteader cabins were built in the area. Since then many homesteads have been abandoned and demolished. Today Wonder Valley has a sparse but diverse population of nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, desert rats, retirees and artists.
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Wonder Valley is a Fundamental community. An online survey was available for five months in early 2018. Approximately 80 surveys were completed by residents. The survey requested information about the community including Values, Aspirations, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, local organizations and local history, see “Community Identified Issues”. The survey information was reviewed to create this Community Action Plan. The Community Action Guides are a framework of actions identified by the community and supports implementation of the actions by the community.
As part of the survey, participants defined the strengths of and opportunities for their community. The word cloud was created using the input provided during the Strengths, Opportunities, Values and Aspirations exercises. The word cloud quickly informs participants of key issues and focus areas that could be addressed in the plan. The more a word or phrase was articulated, the larger the word appears in the cloud.
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The Values are those shared assets, principles, standards, mores, and in the judgement of the community, what is important in the lives of its residents and businesses. A community’s values are an important consideration in shaping its aspirations, focus and actions.
As a community, Wonder Valley values:
- Rural Atmosphere. The large lots and space between properties give residents room to breathe. Wide open spaces allow residents to appreciate and maintain the solitary, laid-back lifestyle of this area.
- Natural Desert Beauty. Residents value the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the dark and starry night skies and the desert views and wildlife.
- Community Spirit. Wonder Valley is a tight-knit community whose residents value self-reliance and neighborly support. The people have a respect for nature, freedom, privacy, and each other. Here, residents work together but also enjoy their independence and being left alone in solitude.
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The community profile is a summary of the social, cultural, economic and historic dimensions of the Wonder Valley community. It is a gathering of objective data collected through an online survey and secondary sources meant to inform and help facilitate creation of the Community Action Guide. The profile highlights essential facets and “tells the story” of the Wonder Valley community.
The Aspirations Statement is a written narrative illustrating how the community desires to look and function once the Community Focus Statements and Action Statements are accomplished. This is a long term view of 10 to 20 years. The Aspirations Statement serves as a foundation for developing Community Focus Statements and Action Statements.
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The community offers family-oriented activities, community health services including mental health services, services for the disadvantaged, improved public transportation, a local fire station and locally based Sheriff’s response.
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Wonder Valley provides residents with a rural lifestyle on large lots with dark night skies.
The Action Plans consists of:
Focus Statements, which provide general direction towards realizing the Community’s aspirations and help organize the plan. (Identified in Workshop #2 and reviewed and finalized in Workshop #3)
Action Statements, which are measurable statements providing critical information on the program, initiative or project to complete. (Identified in Workshop #2 and reviewed and finalized in Workshop #3)
Action Plan Matrices, which provide general sets of action steps necessary to implement each action statement, identify those that would initiate and champion the action statement, provide a general timeline for implementation and identify resources for additional assistance. (Created to support and guide the Community’s identified Focus and Action Statements)
FOCUS STATEMENTS
Expand each Focus Statement to see related Action Statements and download the Action Plan Matrices.
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Action Statements -
Advocate for periodic health care services through a mobile medical clinic and mental health services.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Advocate to County Fire to explore options to re-open the Wonder Valley Fire Station.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Advocate to the Twentynine Palms Water District to annex Wonder Valley and provide water connection to the community in order to provide a cleaner and more reliable source of water for residents.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Advocate to the Morongo Basin Transit Authority to add transit service to Wonder Valley locations.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
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Action Statements -
Identify local historic, artistic, or recreational areas that may interest travelers or tourists to stop and create brochures to leave in tourism locations throughout the Morongo Basin.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Develop a visitor’s center with information about the history and natural environment of the area and market to tourists.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Advocate to the County Economic Development Agency to help attract local businesses to the area.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
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Action Statements -
Create an online and written survey for local residents to list the types of activities they would like to participate in.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Create a list of local residents who are willing to share their expertise with others.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Compare the survey results and the local expertise to identify opportunities to create local groups (e.g., arts, walking, games, reading, etc.) and educational opportunities (e.g., painting, stargazing, resume writing, or children’s programs).
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
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Download the Community Action Guide
Download the Community Action Guide in PDF format.