Orange County Great Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orange County Great Park |
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The El Toro airfield in 1993
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| Type | Regional park |
| Location | Irvine, California |
| Area | 27.5 acres (11.1 ha) (eventually 1,347 acres (545 ha)) |
| Created | July 14, 2007 |
| Operated by | Orange County Great Park Corporation, city of Irvine |
| Status | Open, under development and delays |
| Public transit access | Irvine Transportation Center |
The Orange County Great Park is a large public park located in Irvine, California. It focuses on sports, farming, and the arts. This park was built on the land of a former military air base called Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro. The air base was closed down and no longer used for planes.
The park will cover about 28.8% of the land that used to be the air base. In 2002, people in Orange County voted to approve the park project. It was planned to cost about $1.1 billion.
Contents
History of the Great Park
The land where the Orange County Great Park now stands was once Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. This air base was active from 1943 to 1999. In 1993, a special commission suggested closing MCAS El Toro. Its activities were moved to another base, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
After the base closed, there was a big discussion about what to do with the land. People suggested building a commercial airport, homes, or a large park. This topic was very important in Orange County politics during the late 1990s.
Park Approval and Design
In 2001, voters in Orange County passed something called "Measure W." This measure allowed the former air base land to be used as a central park and nature area. It also allowed for other types of development. Because Measure W passed, the land was officially chosen to become the Orange County Great Park.
The first idea for the park's layout was similar to a place called Newport Center. It had five roads leading into a main loop road. This design would have divided the park into different sections. Later, the design was changed. It now includes a large part of the old runway. This helps remind people of the land's history as an air base.
A very important part of the park's plan is to bring back Agua Chinon Creek. This creek had been buried underground when the base was built in the 1940s. A competition was held to choose the best design for the park. A team of landscape architects led by Ken Smith won the contest.
Building Challenges
Building such a big park has had its challenges. Around 2008, there were some tough economic times. This made it harder for the developers to build the planned homes and other facilities.
In 2014, the Irvine City Council approved a new plan. This plan changed some parts of the park, like removing a canyon area. Another company was allowed to build more homes nearby. In return, they gave $200 million to help develop 688 acres of the park. This part of the park will include golf courses, a sports park, and nature trails.
The park's development has sometimes been part of local city discussions. Sometimes, plans for large projects like this can change. These changes happen as different ideas come up about how best to use the land.
Park Description
The Orange County Great Park was designed by a team of landscape architects. This team was led by Ken Smith. His design was chosen after an international competition.
The City of Irvine owns the park. A non-profit group called the Orange County Great Park Corporation runs it. This corporation is managed by the current members of the city council.
Points of Interest
The Orange County Great Park offers many attractions and activities. These activities focus on fitness, farming, and the arts. The park also has places for special events. These include a restored airplane hangar and a terraced lawn.
Attractions
The Great Park Balloon is the park's most famous attraction. It was the first thing to open at the park on July 14, 2007. The balloon takes visitors 500 feet (152 meters) high. From there, you can see amazing views of the county and the park being built. The balloon can hold 25 to 30 people at once.
- The Great Park Carousel
Agriculture
- Certified Farmers Market
- The Farm+Food Lab
Sports and Recreation
- Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena - This is a large ice rink facility with four ice sheets. Three are for NHL-sized games, and one is Olympic-sized.
- 2,500-seat Championship Soccer Stadium - This is the home field for two soccer teams, Orange County SC and California United Strikers FC.
- 24 additional soccer fields
- 2 sand volleyball courts
- 4 basketball courts
- 25 tennis courts
- 2 softball and baseball fields
- Kids Rock
- Kids playground
- North Lawn
- South Lawn Sports & Fitness Complex
- Reflecting Ponds and Viewing Pier
Arts
- Hangar 244 - This building has a permanent exhibit about the area's history and aviation.
- Palm Court Arts Complex
- Walkable Historical Timeline
Construction and Future Projects
The sports complex at the park was built in different stages. The first stage opened in 2017. It included a soccer stadium, volleyball courts, tennis courts, and a playground. This covered about 53 acres (21 hectares).
The second stage expanded the complex to 175 acres (71 hectares). It added a baseball stadium and turf fields for sports like soccer, football, rugby, or lacrosse. More basketball courts and additional baseball, softball, and soccer fields were also built. This part of the project was finished in September 2018. An 18-hole golf course is still planned for the future.
The park's ice facility had its groundbreaking ceremony in February 2017. The NHL's Anaheim Ducks team hosted it. This large facility is about 280,000 square feet (26,000 square meters). It will have four ice sheets for many programs. These include professional, youth, and adult programs for figure skating, hockey, curling, and broomball. It was planned to open in December 2018.
The Cultural Terrace section is in the southeast part of the park. It covers about 248 acres (100 hectares). As of 2018, this area was still being planned. The City of Irvine is thinking about adding an amphitheater, museums, and a library. In 2017, they approved an agreement with Wild Rivers. This is a water park that used to operate in Irvine. The 26-acre (11-hectare) water park is expected to open in summer 2019. Some people also want a botanical garden to be included.
A special path for animals, called a wildlife corridor, is also being created. This path will connect natural areas near Laguna Beach and the Cleveland National Forest. It is expected to open in mid-2019.
Images for kids
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Great Park stands on land originally part of Rancho Cañada de los Alisos, granted in 1842 to José Antonio Serrano.
See also
In Spanish: Gran parque para la conservación del condado de Orange para niños
