Orange County Great Park 5th Year Anniversary Celebration - Irvine, CA

The ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK celebrated its five year anniversary on Saturday, July 10, 2010, and lots of people were there. 

 

The GREAT PARK occupies the site of former El Toro U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, home of the Black Sheep Squadron in those days, where some of our friends were stationed while training.

It was fun to see aerial acrobat shows for celebration and early stage of proposed aviation museum. 

Other activities for the anniversary event included games and face painting for the kids, country bands, kids park, pony rides and petting zoo.

__________________________________________________________

But where is the ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK?  And when will it truly be developed and built?  $128 million has been spent so far, and the PARK has a preview area, some concerts, the balloon ride, shows and festivals, play and picnic areas, and a completed design.

_______________

Irvine city leaders have controlled this park land for five years now and are preparing for first major park construction to use up to 225 acres (about one-sixth of the 1,347-acre property).

The GREAT PARK BALLOON has been the main draw so far with 140,000 people taking the ride, which brings people 400 feet above the former El Toro U.S. Marine Corps air base. 

Another $70 million is planned for construction for 100 acres of farm land, sports fields, community gardens, roadway improvements and picnic space, but that part won't be completed until at least 2012.  $60 million has gone to park design and about $30 million spent for early construction of amenities. 

 

 

Some people criticize spending choices by the Irvine city council.  The public agency controls Great Park Conservancy, which owns and runs the park.  Full funding isn't there and $1 billion is needed.

Housing giant Lennar Corp purchased most of the air base land from US government in 2005 and agreed to give Irvine land for the Great Park and $200 million in developer fees in exchange for the right to build housing and projects around the park.  But the housing industry has been slow.  So money just isn't there yet to support this park dream.

_____________________________________

The ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK seems to be a wonderful idea, and lots of people will like it.  It's located at a flat land on both sides of runways where big and loud jets once roamed at Irvine and South Orange County.  

Cheering for this venture to be successful, we hope for that to happen at some time in the next ten years.  We will need to be patient. 

_____________________________________________________________________________
 
 
Harrison K. Long
REALTOR and broker associate, Explore Group Properties, Coldwell Banker Previews
949-854-7747 - CA DRE 01410855 - www.LiveAtIrvine.com - www.NewportCoastLive.com - www.LiveAtNewportBeach.com - www.CostaMesaLive.com - www.LiveAtLagunaBeach.com - www.CoastLivineHomes.com 

 

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes