Senator Boxer Visits Great Park and Announces Her Support Obtaining Federal Funds for Great Park Projects

MAY 27, 2008 – IRVINE, California – United States Senator Barbara Boxer today visited the Orange County Great Park and received a briefing on redevelopment plans from Master Designer Ken Smith and members of the Great Park Board of Directors. Following the briefing, the Senator announced her support for federal funding for Great Park projects.

Senator Boxer said, “I’m going to fight for federal funding to help realize this Great Park. I want to be a partner in this great adventure.”

Senator Boxer, who serves as Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, is supporting requests for federal funding to be used for the Great Park’s community farm project, a 30 to 50 acre farm that will produce nutritious food for local food distribution centers to give to needy families.
She is also supporting federal funding to refurbish a 65 year-old historic aircraft hangar that will create a link to the property’s Marine aviation past and preserve a notable building for future public use. “We need to find ways to honor our veterans and our military heritage whenever we can,” Senator Boxer continued.

Senator Boxer has a long history of being actively involved in the base realignment and closures and relayed the importance of communities coming together in redevelopment projects like the Orange County Great Park.

“All of us truly appreciate Senator Boxer’s long time support for the Great Park,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “Her leadership will bring national attention and action to this important project.”

The Orange County Great Park, which is almost twice the size of New York City’s 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:
Marsha Burgess
Manager of Communications
Orange County Great Park Corporation
(949) 724-7404