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Great Park News Archive Meet the Artists Who Created the World’s Largest Photograph Please join us for this free to the public reception – come out and meet the artists who created the world’s largest photograph – and help us celebrate this unprecedented public art initiative at the Orange County Great Park. The Great Picture: The World’s Largest Photograph is a multimedia Great Park Gallery exhibition that tells the story of how The Legacy Project artists – Jerry Burchfield, Mark Chamberlain, Jacques Garnier, Rob Johnson, Douglas McCulloh and Clayton Spada – built the world’s largest camera and used it to make the world’s largest photograph. The Great Picture was born in an F-18 hangar at MCAS El Toro in 2006, before the former air base began to transition into the Great Park. Also part of the exhibition is a demonstration camera obscura (Italian: “dark room”) built by The Legacy Project. The camera obscura is the historical antecedent of all modern day cameras. This is not just any camera, it is a camera you can actually walk into and view a live image of the outside Palm Court Arts Complex projected on the wall inside. Be one of the first to experience this camera obscura in the Great Park Artists Studios at the exhibition opening! Signed copies of The Great Picture: The Making of the World’s Largest Photograph, recently published by Hudson Hills Press, will be available at the reception for a donation of $75 or more to the Foundation for the Great Park. And don’t miss our fabulous Silent Auction – with items of interest to all arts enthusiasts – proceeds of which will help to support the arts initiative at the Great Park. With your support, the Foundation continues to assist in raising needed private funds that will aid in realizing the full potential of the Great Park for all generations and communities throughout Orange County and beyond. The Orange County Great Park is located off the 405 or 5 Freeways at Sand Canyon and Marine Way in Irvine. Admission and parking for this public reception are both free. Jewel Carnivale Event –
Jewel guests enjoyed cocktails at the Great Park Carousel, while colorful Carnivale stilt walkers and acrobats performed for the crowd. A short stroll to the Palm Court Arts Complex gave guests a view of the progress still taking place, as they passed by Hangar 244 that is currently under renovation and will be completed soon. A Brazilian themed dinner created by Chef Azmin of Sapphire, Laguna Beach, was enjoyed during a short presentation and live auction. The magical Carnivale evening concluded with dancing to the romantic beat of the seductive band, Brasil Brazil. Since its formation in October of 2000, the role of the Foundation has been to generate and maintain public and private support throughout Orange County and beyond for the development and operation of the Great Park. A decade later, we remain committed to that role and fully embrace a strengthened mission to advance progress on a truly Great Park for all of Orange County. Posted July 24, 2011 Jewel of Orange County: Carnivale
Join us as we toast to Honorees Marilyn and Tom Nielsen for their commitment to the OC Great Park and to our greater Orange County community. As a board member, Tom exemplifies the tremendous role of the Foundation, bringing a vast body of knowledge and experience to the OC Great Park team. Tom has been instrumental in the advancement of such Park projects as the Wildlife Corridor, Museum of Heritage and Aviation, Discovery Gardens and the Arts + Culture Center. Progress at the OC Great Park About the Foundation Please join us for Jewel 2011 to help celebrate the progress that we’ve all envisioned since our inaugural Jewel of Orange County! Click here for more information. Posted May 13, 2011 Great Park Neighborhoods Moving Forward
“This is what we all have been waiting for,” said Emile Haddad, CEO of Five Point Communities. “For the past three years we have been working on positioning the project to adapt to the change in market conditions, including product offerings, compatibility with the Orange County Great Park phasing and long-term capital commitments. Today, we are submitting thousands of pages of detailed maps for city review. We are ready to move forward.” The project will provide tens of millions of dollars of infrastructure for the development of the Orange County Great Park, thousands of construction jobs and millions of dollars for the benefit of the Irvine Unified School District. The master plan submittal, when approved, will allow for the construction of nearly 5,000 homes and 1.2 million square feet of space designed for retail, recreational, office, R & D and educational purposes. Since the Navy sold the property in 2005, Great Park Neighborhoods and the City of Irvine have established a strong public-private partnership. Five Point Communities is responsible for developing Great Park Neighborhoods and the City of Irvine is responsible for building the 1,347-acre Orange County Great Park. “This partnership is essential to building out a master planned community of this scale,” Haddad said. In accepting the submittal on behalf of the city, Mayor Sukhee Kang said “we are pleased to be moving forward as public-private partners. The City of Irvine and Five Point Communities each has its respective role through this process but both of us are committed to following the tradition of master planning that has made the City of Irvine so successful and desirable.” The completion of public hearings and City approvals is expected in late summer 2011 with grading and infrastructure work starting shortly thereafter. The delivery of the first homes is anticipated in 2013, assuming the real estate market in Irvine continues its recovery. “Very few projects of this complexity and magnitude are moving forward,” stated Haddad. “This shows the commitment made by our partners and the lender as well as the value they place on the Irvine market.” The Great Park Neighborhoods is a venture consisting of national homebuilder Lennar Corp., investment firm Rockpoint Group LLC, MSD Capital LP, and LNR Property LLC, which will be working closely with Five Point on the commercial component of this project. Larry Agran, Chairman of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board, stated “this submittal is a big step forward for all of us. This has been an unprecedented real estate market and now we can look forward to implementing the plan we always envisioned of having a world class park next to a unique community that is walkable and transit friendly.” Located on the former El Toro Marine Corp Air Base, the boundaries of the Great Park Neighborhoods are generally Portola Parkway to the north, Route 133 to the west, Alton and Bake to the east and the I-5 to the south. Posted January 11, 2011 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Marian Bergeson
Recently, the Foundation entered into a “Master Agreement” with the City of Irvine and the Great Park Corporation designating the Foundation for the Great Park as the Park's primary coordinator of private sector fundraising. The agreement defines a fundraising framework that enables the Foundation to assure donors that their intentions regarding how and when their contributions are to be used will be honored. It also affirms that all contributions will be appropriately acknowledged and that all private fundraising for the Park will be accomplished in a transparent manner. The agreement recognizes that the City and the Great Park Corporation will implement the Park's land use plan, determine appropriate uses of the property, facilities, personnel and services within the Park, and pursue government grants and corporate sponsorships. The Foundation for the Great Park is newly empowered to oversee much of the Park's private fundraising activity and to develop collaborative public/private funding relationships to benefit the Great Park. It is important to emphasize that the Master Agreement guarantees that the Foundation will remain “strictly independent,” continuing to establish our own policies and procedures, to elect our own Board of Directors, and to raise funds to support our own operations. As a completely non-partisan and non-political organization, the Foundation will continue to maintain our single-minded focus on assuring the creation of a Great Park that benefits all Orange County residents. This is an exciting time for the Great Park. The recent launch of the $65.5 million Phase One Development Plan is bringing impressive progress to the Park, and visitors to the Park over the next 18 months will witness the completion of numerous new and inviting Park features. (Click here for an overview of the Western Sector Park Development Plan 2010-2012.) Serious discussions are also beginning on the Park's Phase Two Development Plan. With the continued support of our many friends and donors, and with new responsibilities entrusted to us by the City of Irvine and the Great Park Corporation, the Foundation for the Great Park is fully embracing a strengthened mission to advance progress on a truly Great Park. Posted November 30, 2010 Conservancy Donates Shade Trees to OC Great Park
Conservancy Director Rick Hume, a professional landscape architect, worked with OC Great Park CEO Mike Ellzey, to arrange for the planting of 20 large Sycamore Plane Trees (Plantanus x acerifolia ‘Columbia') in the lawn area surrounding the Balloon Park. Platanus x acerifolia ‘Columbia' is a handsome tree with structural character that can grow to 50 feet in height. These Sycamore Plane Trees will offer welcome shade to park visitors. An additional 70 Olives (Olea ‘Majestic Beauty') will be planted around the perimeter of the park's popular Farm and Food Lab. Attractive and refined in appearance, Olea ‘Majestic Beauty' is a perfect companion plant to any Mediterranean garden. Many thanks to Valley Crest Companies for their vision in supporting the Great Park Conservancy's work to generate public support and private contributions for the development and operation of the Orange County Great Park. Posted September 1, 2010 The elegant evening was held overlooking the glowing Great Park Balloon at historic Hangar 244. A highlight of the evening was the launch of construction for the park's new Palm Court and Squadron Complex.
The mission of the Great Park Conservancy is to serve as the Great Park's private fundraising arm and to generate and maintain public and private support throughout Orange County and beyond for the parks development and operation. Posted August 2, 2010
Great Park Conservancy Presents Delight to the romantic music of Bulgarian virtuoso guitarists Triada Guitar Trio as you sip hosted cocktails and sample from our wine and cheese tastings. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner created by Chef Azmin of Sapphire, Laguna Beach as you watch the Great Park Balloon rise into the night sky. Your magical evening concludes with dancing under the stars to a musical medley of songs performed by 2,000 Lbs of Blues. Event co-Chairs, Michelle & David Horowitz and Honorary Chair, Marian Bergeson wish to thank the many generous sponsors of this year’s Jewel of Orange County fund raising and friend raising event. A very special thanks goes to Presenting Sponsor Microsemi Corporation. Additional corporate sponsors include: Sprouts Farmers Market, Orange County Business Bank, MacGillivray Freeman Films, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Hoag Hospital. Valley Crest Landscape Companies, Discovery Science Center, Envelopments, Signature Party Rentals, Blue Ice Vodka, Bacchus’ Secret Cellar, Coast Magazine and Tahoe Ridge Winery. Individual sponsors to date include: Brenda & Bob Currie, Michelle & David Horowitz, Barbara & Greg MacGillivray, Donna & Doug Neff, Marilyn & Tom Nielsen, Anoosheh & Alan Oskouian, Sheila & Jim Peterson, Janet & Walkie Ray, Teddie Ray, Michael Ray, Danah & Alex Stimpson, and Keiko Sakamoto & Bill Witte. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the event, please call the Great Park Conservancy offices at 949.653.1775 or go to JewelOC.com. Posted May 28, 2010
Directions to the Great Park Conservancy: Lectures will be held at the offices of the Great Park Conservancy, and the Great Park thanks the Conservancy for their continuing support. Take the I-5 or I-405 to Sand Canyon and head north. Turn right on Trabuco Road, and turn left at the end. Take the first right to the Conservancy offices. Admission is free. For more information please call (949) 724-7420. Lecture Schedule The Role of Plants in Urban Ecosystems Dangerous Liaisons? When Cultivated Plants Mate with Their Wild Relatives Citrus Goes Global Amphibians and Reptiles of Southern California Posted April 5, 2010
Great
Park Conservancy Board Taps Hon. Marian Bergeson The Great Park Conservancy’s new chair was the first woman ever to serve in both the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Bergeson was a member of the California State Legislature from 1978-1995. She served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 1995-1996 and was the California State Secretary of Education from 1996-1999. The Great Park Conservancy’s new slate of officers also includes: David Horowitz, businessman and philanthropist, vice chair; Robert Currie, former partner of Latham & Watkins, secretary; and John Katkish, President of First Management Group in Washington D.C., treasurer. In addition, the Great Park Conservancy has added four new board members: Bob Magnuson, Doug Neff, Bill Witte and Mike Ellzey. Magnuson is currently president of Magnuson & Company, a strategic communications firm. Previously, Magnuson was president and CEO of InfoWorld Media Group, and before that he spent nearly 20 years at the Los Angeles Times. Doug Neff is a managing partner and president of IHP Capital Partners, where he has primary responsibility for the company’s operations. Neff was previously treasurer of the Irvine Company. Bill Witte is president of Related of California where he oversees all multi-family development activity in California. Prior to this, Witte was director of the Mayors Office of Housing & Economic Development in San Francisco. Mike Ellzey, who was elected as an ex-officio member of the Board, is the Orange County Great Park Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his position at the Great Park, Ellzey was the Executive Director and CEO of the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority in San Francisco. Marian Bergeson succeeds Michael Ray, who has been elected Chairman Emeritus of the Great Park Conservancy. Ms. Bergeson’s two-year term will correspond to the beginning of construction at the Orange County Great Park. Posted November 21, 2009
Posted October 20, 2009
OC Great Park Summer Night Concerts
and Dances On Saturday nights, the Great Park will be transformed into an arts and culture destination. Performing artists, from an eclectic mix of styles and cultures will entertain guests in the unique setting of the Preview Park. To complete the evenings, Hangar #244 will be transformed into a café during Flights & Sounds of Summer performances. A fresh, casual gourmet selection of food will be available for purchase to dine-in or to enjoy on the picnic lawn. Performance
Schedule Performance
Schedule Posted July 17, 2009
Preparations for the “Jewel of Orange County” have been underway for months and have included many of Orange County’s business and social elite. Committee Chairs for this year’s event include: Donald Akin, Joni Brice, Peggy Goldwater Clay, Ellen Hanson-Walker, Sheila Peterson, Janet Ray, Kathy Taylor, Rosemary Ward, Tricia Wilhelm and Lizanne Witte. Nearly fifty other Committee Members make up the dedicated team of individuals who are working diligently to support the event. Additional support is being provided by the Conservancy’s Board of Directors and Directors and staff of the OC Great Park Corporation, and Great Park Neighborhoods. Major event sponsors include: Sheila & Jim Peterson, Teddie & Michael Ray, the David L. Horowitz Family, Janet & Walkie Ray, and the Orange County Business Bank. Additional sponsors include: Marian Bergeson, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Joan Halvajian, and The Irvine Company. Other event donors include: HEILBrice, Inc., Valley Crest, Blue Ice Vodka, Coast Magazine, Signature Party Rentals. A special Cartier Love Bracelet donated by Cartier South Coast Plaza is our Grand Prize Opportunity Drawing. To learn more about the 4th Annual Jewel of Orange County click here. Posted June 29, 2009
Through the strong financial support of our Founding Garden Donors, we have begun a feasibility study for the Garden's development and are partnering with the Discovery Science Center to move the project from concept to reality. The garden is planned to be a place where students of all ages can learn about science and nature in fun and entertaining ways. Sustainable and organic garden practices, stewardship of our natural resources, environmental awareness, and home gardening will all be themes within the Conservancy Garden. It promises to be world-class in design, feature beautiful horticulture, be changeable and renewable, and tell the story of the future Botanical Garden. As part of our feasibility study for the Conservancy Garden, we are conducting a survey that will help us in planning the best possible garden for the Orange County community. We thank you for taking the time to be a part of the Great Park planning process. Click here to take the survey. Posted May 6, 2009
The Conservancy has continued its work to ensure that the Botanical Garden is a priority of the Great Park. As we began to explore development of the Botanical Garden, we realized the need for a smaller scale garden that would preview what is being planned within the larger Botanical Garden. This preview garden — called the Conservancy Garden — will be a model Southern California Garden within the Great Park. Through the strong financial support of our Founding Garden Donors, we have begun a feasibility study for the Garden's development and are partnering with the Discovery Science Center to move the project from concept to reality. The Garden is planned to be a place where students of all ages can learn about science and nature in fun and entertaining ways. Sustainable and organic garden practices, stewardship of our natural resources, environmental awareness and home gardening will all be themes within the Conservancy Garden. It promises to be world-class in design, feature beautiful horticulture, be changeable and renewable and tell the story of the future Botanical Garden. To learn more about the third annual Garden Luncheon click here. Posted March 27, 2009
A
Place Where Inspiration Becomes Opportunity – the
Orange County Great Park Posted November 20, 2008
As a hallmark of the Conservancy’s progress, the event included an announcement of plans to begin work on the Conservancy Garden (see video), which is envisioned to be a source of inspiration for the larger Botanical Garden in the Great Park. This garden will be world-class in design, feature beautiful horticulture, include opportunities for learning, and be changeable and renewable. In an historic agreement between the Great Park Corporation and the Great Park Conservancy, the Conservancy is moving forward with plans to develop and operate this garden. The agreement represents a tremendous opportunity for both the Great Park Corporation and Great Park Conservancy because it will mark the park’s first permanent project and establish the foundation for future projects between the Great Park Corporation and the Great Park Conservancy. Posted July 21, 2008
Over the past year, the Conservancy conducted initial research for the Botanical Garden at the Orange County Great Park. In the course of this research, the idea for a Conservancy Garden as a first feature of the larger garden began to grow. The Conservancy Garden will be a source of inspiration for the larger garden. It will be world class in design, tell the story of the future botanical garden, include opportunities for learning, and be changeable and renewable. The Conservancy will immediately begin working with Great Park Master Designer Ken Smith and the Great Park Design Studio to discuss design issues and opportunities for the Conservancy Garden. The Conservancy envisions the Great Park to be one of the world’s great metropolitan parks. Our role is to generate and maintain public and private support throughout Orange County and beyond for the development and operation of the Orange County Great Park. We look forward to working with the Great Park Corporation and the Great Park Design Studio to support the planning, development, financing and operation of the Orange County Great Park – beginning with this partnership on the Conservancy Garden. Posted February 8, 2008 Great
Park Survey Results Results of the survey have been compiled and are presented here in summary, along with comments by survey participants. Among the key findings are that people want: a mix of uses within the Park; features and programs that take advantage of the outdoors and unique space of the Park; and, facilities and amenities that are not otherwise available. — Among
the most popular attractions are: Comments
by survey participants included: "Keep it green. Keep it interactive. Keep it about community in O.C." "The park should act as a town square or focal point for all of Orange County to come together. It should incorporate much needed cultural venues where residents can find substance for the mind and soul." — If you would like to receive a copy of the complete survey results, please call our Conservancy offices at 949.653.1775. Posted December 20, 2007 Great
Park Open House Invites Public to Comment
on Park Programs The results of the survey will be presented to the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board on December 13th. To take the survey click here … Posted November 30, 2007 |
Thanks to the hard work of hundreds of people – and the tremendous leadership of the Great Park Board – this promise was fulfilled in just one short year. On Saturday, July 16th, the 
Beginning at 6:00 in the evening, enjoy the pageantry of the Great Park Carousel as we sip delicious cocktails and enjoy sumptuous appetizers next to this magical Park feature. Then, stroll to the nearby Palm Court for a Brazilian themed dinner created by Chef Azmin of Sapphire, Laguna Beach. Your magical Carnivale evening concludes with dancing to the romantic beat of a seductive Brazilian band. 
On January 10, 2011, Five Point Communities, LLC, the development manager of 
As you will note on our masthead above, the Great Park Conservancy is changing its name. We are returning to our original and still official name, the Foundation for the Great Park, because it more clearly embodies our expanded role in developing the Great Park. 
For each of the past five years, thanks to generous support from Valley Crest Companies, the Conservancy's annual Jewel of Orange County fundraising event has been enhanced with many lovely trees and shrubs on loan for the event. This year, the trees used to decorate the Jewel were donated to the Conservancy, providing us the opportunity for Valley Crest and the Conservancy to work together to make available these beautiful shade trees to the OC Great Park. 
The Great Park Conservancy's 5th annual “Jewel of Orange County” fundraiser on Saturday, July 31 highlighted progress made by the independent foundation that supports Great Park development and celebrated the beginning of construction of the park's new Arts + Culture Center, a Conservancy-supported project that will be completed in 2011. 
To inaugurate the transition of the aging World War II squadron headquarters and vacated warehouses into an experimental public art and culture space, the Conservancy presented an original dance and circus production staged by aerial artists and former Cirque du Soleil choreographer Bianca Sapetto. With aerial dancers swaying from the rafters, stilt walkers towering above the crowd and German wheel and trampoline artists moving to the raucous rhythms of the Pacific Youth Symphony's Saxophone Quartet, new life was infused in the long-deserted loading docks of the former Marine air station. Henry Korn, the park's director of arts + culture, provided guests with a preview of the new exhibition space, artists' studios and the elegant, shaded Palm Court – all of which will open at the Great Park in the summer of 2011. 
Conservancy Chairwoman Marian Bergeson gave special praise to the evening's hosts, Michelle and David Horowitz who oversaw planning for the event and commissioned the special entertainment. “In so generously commissioning this evening's dazzling performance, you have introduced a hint of artistic magic into the Great Park,” Ms. Bergeson said. “By next year, that magic -- with a little help from the engineers, architects and contractors of the Great Park, and donations from the private sector -- will transform the empty warehouses and decaying concrete into Orange County's newest center for the creative arts.” 
countywide public support and private contributions for the Orange County Great Park. On Saturday, July 31, 2010, the Conservancy will present the 
The Orange County Great Park will be a new center for experiencing our natural world, and understanding how people and our environment can advance together. The first expression of this mission is the free public evening lecture series offering new insights into our natural and dynamic world of Southern California. Our speakers this spring will confront issues critical for us to have a sustainable world.
On
Friday, July 17, 2009 the Great Park Conservancy will host its annual
fundraising event, the “
The
Conservancy has continued its work to ensure that the Botanical Garden
is a priority of the Great Park. As we began to explore development
of the Botanical Garden, we realized the need for a smaller garden
that would preview what is being planned within the larger Botanical
Garden. This preview garden — called the Conservancy Garden — will
be a model Southern California garden within the Great Park. 
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