Preliminary Great Park Master Design Unveiled

Design Reflects Public Input

OCTOBER 12, 2006 – IRVINE, California – Great Park Design Studio Master Designer Ken Smith unveiled today the Preliminary Master Design of the Orange County Great Park to its Board of Directors. The Preliminary Design includes ideas presented directly to the Great Park Design Studio from community members who participated in a variety of public focus groups. It also includes information gathered from the public process last year that helped the Great Park Design Studio create its initial conceptual design. The public can now view and provide comment on the Preliminary Master Design starting Saturday, October 14 at the Irvine Civic Center.

“Public participation is our top priority,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “It is the information we collect from Orange County residents now that will help us build a sustainable Great Park for the future. We are honored that so many people from across Orange County gave their time and consideration to help create the Great Park. We encourage all people to now provide their comments on the Preliminary Master Design.”

“The proposed Master Plan for the Orange County Great Park represents another milestone in the City of Irvine’s commitment to fulfill the intent of Measure W. When completed, this plan will produce the first great metropolitan park of the 21st Century, and will truly represent the highest expression of environmental stewardship and healthy living,” said Beth Krom, Mayor, City of Irvine.

The Preliminary Design will be on display for three weeks at the Irvine Civic Center, or until November 2. Public comment forms will be provided to all participants. Comments will be collected and tabulated into a report that will be provided to the Great Park Board of Directors and Design Studio.

“The public enthusiasm for the Great Park has inspired many of the key elements you now see in the Preliminary Master Plan”, said Ken Smith. “The Design Studio and I look forward to receiving further comments.”

The Design Team will present their plan to the Great Park Board again on October 26. They will present their Final Preliminary Plan to the Irvine City Council on November 14. If approved, the Design Studio will move on to finalizing the Phasing Plan and Phase One Schematic Design by Spring 2007.

Elements of the Preliminary Master Plan

Botanic Garden. The Botanic Garden is the heart of the Great Park. Visitors will be able to observe Southern California’s plants in habitats close up and in detail. They will be able to experience, in a totally new way, the relationships between people and plants, food and health, society and setting.

Cultural Terrace. The Cultural Terrace is a 100-ft wide Jacaranda tree-lined urban terrace that will serve as a key pedestrian and social space linking the major cultural features of the Great Park. Located nearby will be a 10,000-seat amphitheater with views to the Lake and the Canyon.

Great Canyon. The Great Canyon is major space in the Great Park. Over two miles long with 60 feet of elevation change, the Great Canyon is intended an oasis where visitors can stroll along paths and trails bordered by native palms, woodlands and Mediterranean ornamentals. A perennial stream with a string of small pools will run the length of the Canyon.

Sports Park. The 165-acre Sports Park will feature a variety of sports facilities and programs to accommodate the County’s varying athletic interests. Some of the proposed amenities include soccer fields, baseball fields, a skateboard complex, a rock climbing wall, and a field house.

Veterans Memorial. For over 50 years, MCAS El Toro served the country as a training facility in peacetime and a staging area for support of overseas military missions in times of conflict. The history of El Toro will be memorialized at the Great Park Air Museum where vintage aircraft will be displayed on remnants of the former runways.

Wildlife Corridor. The Great Park Wildlife Corridor will establish a wildlife movement and open space connection between the habitat preserves in the Limestone-Whiting Wilderness Park to the north and the Laguna Coast Wilderness and Crystal Cove State Parks to the south.

The Orange County Great Park, which is almost twice the size as Central Park, will be a major metropolitan park and the focal point of redevelopment of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro. The Great Park will include extensive natural areas and open space in addition to recreational and cultural uses.

For more information, go to www.ocgp.org.

Press Contacts:
Maryann Maloney
(949) 375-0856