Great Park Design Studio Reveals Plans for Next Phase of Park Development

JANUARY 25, 2007 – IRVINE, California – The Great Park Design Studio gave a detailed presentation on the $400 million proposed plan for the design and construction of the next phase of the Orange County Great Park to the Orange County Great Park Board of Directors at today’s Board meeting.

The presentation included the Design Studio’s recommendation for design development and advancement of the Park, including the following work tasks and programs:

Schematics Plans for the Whole Park

• Park Infrastructure Plans
• Site Preparation (including demolition plans)
• Mass Grading for the Whole Park
• Detailed Phasing Analysis
• Strategic Planning and Public Information

Phase I Final Design

• Design Development
• Construction Documents and Plans
• Public Agency Approvals and Permits
• Construction Management Support

The Great Park Design Studio seeks to build on its initial contract for creating the Master Plan by proposing to design the first phase of the Park. The Design proposal includes completing a number of signature elements of the Great Park and grading the rest of the site to prepare it for construction of future elements.

“The Great Park Design Studio, under the leadership of Ken Smith, has produced a Master Plan that has excited the people of Orange County and promises to truly become the first great metropolitan park of the 21st Century. I have every confidence that the Design Studio is the right team to move the project forward during the coming years,” said Larry Agran, Orange County Great Park Board Chairman.

The proposal is for approximately $400 million of Park design and construction, funding for which is anticipated from the following sources:

• $100 million in Development Agreement Fee revenues.
• $233.2 million in tax increment revenues anticipated from now to 2013.
• $60 million in tax increment revenues anticipated between 2013 and 2020.
• Additional funding from public/private sector, grants, and corporate naming rights.

The funding sources for this proposal do not include an estimated $750 million dollars in additional tax increment funding that would be available to the Great Park under the terms of an Amended Development Agreement with Lennar that is currently under consideration by the City of Irvine.

“When the first phase is completed, we will have a fully completed Park which is nearly the size of New York’s Central Park and the stage will be set to develop the balance of the Park in accordance with the Master Plan,” said Great Park Master Designer Ken Smith. “We can’t wait to begin this exciting phase.”

Completed elements of the Phase I Plan include:

Trabuco Entry
The Trabuco Entry will serve as the primary point of entry to the Great Park and will provide Great Park visitors with a stunning view of the park property. The entrance will feature two dramatic reflecting pools with fountains and will provide a wonderful location for park visitors to relax. In addition to the reflecting pools and fountains, the entry will feature a farmers’ market, a tot-lot, an outdoor café, and environmentally friendly transit options for park visitors to get around the park.

The Bosque
The Bosque is a series of pocket parks with a rich and diverse arboretum of trees and shrubs that will provide visitors will a cool, relaxing space. Citrus and avocado orchards and wildflower meadows will be scattered throughout the parks, celebrating our region’s rich agricultural and natural heritage.

Sports Park
The first phase of the sports park will include many amenities and features identified by Orange County residents as most needed and important. Orange County’s largest sports park will provide visitors with a wide array of recreational spaces including soccer fields, baseball and softball fields and basketball courts.

Lake
A 21-acre lake will be a central feature of the Great Park Canyon. The lake will sit near the middle of the canyon and will be flanked on one side by the Cultural Terrace and on the other by the Botanic Garden’s terraced plantings and Tea House. In addition to providing an idyllic location for relaxation and contemplation, the lake will provide a venue for water sports and recreation.

Conservatory Bridge
The Conservatory Bridge will be an integral part of the future botanic garden at the Great Park and is proposed to be included in Phase 1. In addition to connecting the cultural terrace and the main botanic garden, the Conservatory Bridge will act as both a Botanic Garden visitor center and an active horticultural area that will feature an array of plant species and ecosystems. The Conservatory Bridge will be a seamless part of visitors’ Botanic Garden experience.

Balloon Park
The Balloon Park will be home to the Great Park’s signature feature – the Great Orange Balloon! The Great Orange Balloon will carry up to thirty visitors 400 feet into the air for a stunning aerial view of the Great Park and surrounding communities. In addition to the balloon, the Balloon Park will feature fully developed recreational facilities and a demonstration park that will provide a glimpse into what the future Great Park will look like.

Timeline
A segment of existing El Toro taxiway will be used as the backdrop for a walkable timeline telling the story of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The timeline will outline all of the major events in the life of the El Toro property, from the geologic events that shaped the land through its history of military service and beyond.

Visitor’s Center
The Great Park visitor’s center will act as a jumping-off point for visitors to the Great Park. The visitor’s center will provide park visitors with information about available park attractions as well as displays outlining both existing park features and the progress of construction.

The Orange County Great Park, which is almost twice the size of Central Park, will be a major metropolitan park and the focal point of the 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, please go to www.ocgp.org

Press Contacts:
Judy Pal
Communications Manager
City of Irvine
(949) 724-6077