Great Park Design Team Showcases Preview Park’s Future Iconic Features

The Palm Court, Performance Area, and Pod

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 – IRVINE, California – The Orange County Great Park Corporation Board of Directors received a presentation today from the Great Park Design Studio showcasing the three iconic features that will complete the 27.5-acre Preview Park. The features are: the Palm Court, a new Performance Area, and a Visitor Center called the “Pod.” The Preview Park is a “park within a park” to prototype the kind of spaces and programs that will become part of the larger Great Park.

“The Great Park continues to successfully grow,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “In addition to the Great Park Balloon, the Picnic Lawn and the Hangar Cafe, these new iconic elements will set the stage for the Great Park’s future.”

The first iconic feature is the Palm Court. The Palm Court will be an open gathering space with seating and shade structures. It will be lined with transplanted mature palm trees from the 60-year old former Marine air base to provide lots of shade. The historical airplane hangar within the Palm Court could be used for cafés or exhibition space. The Palm Court will begin a tree lined “palm parade” that will extend to the future Sports Park.

The new Performance Area will be a space with terraced lawns and abundant outside seating that can hold up to 3,000 people for watching concerts and events. The area is being designed to accommodate large and small events and provide a cooler comfortable setting to enjoy events. The Performance Area will also be shaded by trees transplanted from the base.

The third iconic feature is the first of several “Pods.” Unlike the other two iconic features that focus on landscape, the Pods are functional structures or “park- itecture.” The Pods will provide essential services such as bathrooms, picnic shelters, drinking fountains, cafes, bicycle stations and the visitor’s center. The creatively designed pods will be easily noticeable for visitors to locate. Representatives from the Design Studio commented, “We couldn’t build spaces like this ten years ago; technology has helped us design and ultimately build more creative as well as functional buildings that will become iconic features of the Great Park.”

A variety of Preview Park elements are being tested by the design team and the public. One environmental element is the bioswale to test drainage and how water will percolate into the ground to recharge the ground water. Another element involves transforming an historic airplane hanger into a café and exhibition space. Different types of turfs are being tested for drought tolerance. New lighting fixtures are being designed to prevent light pollution from shining upward into the sky.

“The Preview Park is a good tool for park designers to understand the park’s features, how they will perform, and how the public will respond to each feature,” said Michael Taylor, Great Park Design Team.
The Orange County Great Park is one of the largest public works projects in the United States. It 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.

Visitors to the Orange County Great Park can now enjoy free concerts, dance, Hangar 244 café’ and balloon flights.

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

Press Contacts:
Steve Larsen
Clerk of the Board / Interim PIO
Orange County Great Park Corporation
(949) 724-7414