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Great
Park News Archive Making
Sustainability Tangible Posted March 30, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 The
Living Laboratory Plan Posted March 23, 2007 Living
Laboratory Opportunities Program and Design: an approach to creating innovative programs or integrating art-based ideas into larger programs Sustainability Made Tangible: a focus on sustainability, which makes this broad concept tangible and accessible to the public Infrastructure: strategies to reveal and give visual expression to infrastructure in local and regional concepts Natural Systems: strategies to reveal and give visual expression to natural systems in local and regional context Neighborhood Integration: ways of connecting neighborhoods and communities physically and socially through projects focused on environment, culture, and history Posted March 16, 2007 The
Park as Living Laboratory Because the issues are so complex, is it impossible for individuals to understand all the problems or recognize the most effective solutions. For this reason, collaboration is at the core of the Park’s vision. Artists, and designers make sustainability a tangible experience by working with scientists, hydrologists, and involved citizens. Using the senses of sight, touch, taste, sound, and smell, they will arouse the curiosity of visitors, and invite the visitors’ participation in finding solutions for the pressing problems of our time. Check back next week to learn about Living Laboratory Opportunities. Posted March 9, 2007 Sustainability
In Action at the Orange County Great Park: Part Two To accommodate the need for Shuttles to Mass Transit, strong physical and transportation connections to the Great Park have been made by the planning of the Transit Oriented Development and the Irvine Station. Shuttle loops will quickly transport people into and around the Park. Portions of the runways will remain and Demolition Materials will be Reused onsite. Redwoods planks may be reused as bridge planks. Daylighting of the channelized stream, Agua Chinon, will provide new opportunities for natural water quality enhancements. Down at the bottom of the canyon, visitors will find a cool, calm oasis even on the hottest days in Southern California—this will be the Canyon Microclimate. The Wildlife Corridor will be an important corridor connection from the Cleveland National Forest to the Laguna Coast Wilderness areas and the multiple habitats in the Great Park. Human access will be limited to maintenance and monitoring of animal activities. By way of the Integrated Transit System, visitors will be able to park once and spend the day, moving through the Park on hiking trails, bikes, a Park shuttle, or a fixed guideway. Visitors will even be able to get to the Park by regional rail, regional bike riding and hiking trails, or pedestrian connections with the neighboring communities. Check back next week for new information about the Great Park as a living laboratory. Posted March 2, 2007 Sustainability
In Action at the Orange County Great Park The 400kW Photovoltaic Array is proposed for only one acre of the Great Park, which will cover an outdoor pavilion near the great lawn and will be one of the largest renewable energy installations in the Great Park. Most of the Park will be planted with Native species, which will provide wildlife habitat areas. Native Planting will be appropriate to the Southern California climate and will remind visitors of the natural heritage of the region. An Aircraft Museum will be one of the strongest public reminders of the El Toro military airfield history. Many other references to the diverse history of the site will be found throughout the Great Park. Sitewide Compositing refers to a system in which all green waste from demolition and subsequent park development on the site will be brought to a composting facility that will provide organic supplements for soil amendments. Irrigation needs for the Great Park will be minimal, but the areas requiring irrigation will be served by Reclaimed Water from the Irvine Ranch Water District. Check back next week to learn about sustainability in action at the Great Park through Shuttles to Mass Transit, Agua Chinon, Reuse of Base Demolition, the Canyon Microclimate, the Wildlife Corridor, and Integrated Transit Sytems. Posted February 23, 2007 Three
Park Experiences in One: The Fields & Memorial Park The Fields & Memorial Park commemorates the history of the site from the earliest recorded times to the present. The land at the Great Park has many human stories to tell, from when it was home to native Americans, Spanish and Mexican settlers to its early statehood days, to a time of lush agricultural production, and finally to its most recent history as a U.S. Military Base. This land is a part of the histories of many people and many families—and all of these people will be honored in the Fields & Memorial Park. This area of the Great Park will include the major athletic facilities of the Sports Park, which will serve citizens of all ages and abilities. Posted February 16, 2007 Three
Park Experiences in One: Habitat Park The Habitat Park, which will account for a major portion of the Park’s acreage, will be an ecological magnet that will draw wildlife and enriches the experience of the Park’s human visitors. The habitats here will join up with existing preserves and will allow visitors to wander through the unique ecological communities that make Southern California unique. From oak woodlands to wildflower meadows, each turn of the trail and change of season will give examples of our healthy sustainable habitats. Check back next week to learn about the Fields & Memorial Park within the Great Park Master Plan. Posted February 9, 2007 Three
Park Experiences in One: The Canyon In the Great Park Master Plan, water features abound, from Turtle Island to vernal pools and gentle brooks. Color from birds, butterflies, and flowers will be present throughout the year. Also, the Botanical Garden at the south end will provide a place to learn about plants and culture and to attain a deeper understanding of the environment around us. Check back next week to learn about the Habitat Park within the Orange County Great Park. Posted February 2, 2007 A
New Kind of Park: Part Three Not only is the Great Park situated at the intersection of the 5 Freeway, the 405 Freeway, and the 133 Toll way, giving automobile travelers easy access to this regional amenity, its unique location is also nestled against the Irvine Transportation Center. This means that park-goers can use public transportation, such as trains and busses, to reach the Orange County Great Park. The Great Park will also link existing and create new riding, hiking, and multi-use trails for the Southern California region. With the Great Park as a central hub in Orange County, it creates a multitude of countywide and regional connections. These connections will allow park-users of all ages and walks of life to enjoy the self-sustaining sanctuary of the Orange County Great Park. Check back next week to learn about the three park experiences in one at the Orange County Great Park. Posted January 26, 2007 A
New Kind of Park: Part Two Ecologically, the Park is a vital link in the chain of land reserves stretching from the coast to the mountains. It ties into existing land reserves and makes critical connections linking together ecological systems and water reserves in Orange County. Socially, the Park will connect to the communities for all residents of Orange County. The Park will knit together riding, hiking, and multiuse trails from all parts of the county, completing an existing bicycle network within the county, and linking all neighborhoods to the Park and communities beyond. Culturally, the Park connects and celebrates the sense of history in the Orange County region. The fields, the timeline, and the memorial site capture the memories of what came before us. Check back next week to learn about regional connections that will be made by the Orange County Great Park. Posted January 19, 2007 A
New Kind of Park: Part One With its unique location, the Great Park is nestled between two regional wilderness parks, Limestone Wilderness Park and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. This location is invaluable because it allows the Cleveland National Forest to link directly to the Pacific Ocean. This connection of precious open space is a dream realized for many local environmentalists. Visit us next week to learn about the three kinds of connections that are incorporated into the Great Park Master Plan: Ecological Connections, Social Connections, and Cultural Connections. Posted January 12, 2007 A
New Kind of Park for the Twenty-First Century Orange County is a growing and changing community, becoming a major metropolitan area. In the heart of Orange County a brand new park is being created, one in which visitors will experience a new kind of relationship between the built environment in which they live and the natural world. As parks long have been, the Great Park will be an oasis, a place of pleasure, activity, and reflection; but it is much more. It is a place that connects our history and our current needs, knitting together the communities of Southern California and restoring the region’s natural heritage. The opportunity is at hand for the Great Park to become a catalyst to manage change, make connections, and model a healthy, sustainable future for the county, the nation, and even the world. Posted January 5, 2007 Sustainability
in the Preliminary Master Plan for the Great Park Biodiversity: Provide ecological habitats and connections to reflect the local natural heritage and to enhance the biodiversity in the region. Connection to Nature: Bring nature and environmental education opportunities into the greater Orange County area. Land Sustainability: The Great Park will develop healthy, living soil through natural soil amendments and other means as necessary. Air Quality: Improve air quality of both internal and external environments. Water: Protect and conserve both natural and potable water resources. Well Being: Protect and improve the health and productivity of those who visit and work in the Park. Energy: Reduce the use of fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases. Materials: Minimize the impact of construction materials and the generation of waste. Inclusion: Encourage community participation and civic engagement so that all visitors can obtain an equivalent experience in the Park. Heritage: Instill a sense of place that references the history of the site and the region. Transit: Provide a transit-oriented development for the surrounding community with less-polluting transportation choices within and beyond the Park Monitoring: Incorporate ongoing measurement and monitoring of key sustainability metrics. Posted December 15, 2006 Happy
Holidays! The Great Park Conservancy envisions one of the world’s great metropolitan parks. In the coming year, we will continue our work to support this vision. Thanks for being a part of the vision! Wishing you a very happy holiday season! Posted December 8, 2006 Sustainability
at the Great Park To learn about the plans for sustainable infrastructure, restored habitat, and renewable energy generation, please visit the “Transforming the Land” section of our website. On February 9th, 2007, the Design Studio will participate in a panel about sustainability at the Great Park. We will post more information about this exciting event at the beginning of next year. Posted November 10,2006 Garden
Luncheon A Huge Success! Speakers at the Botanical Garden Luncheon included four members of the Great Park Design Studio: principal member Ken Smith, Mia Lehrer, Mary Miss, and Stephen Handel, Ph.D. Ken Smith provided the audience with a comprehensive overview of the Great Park plan, which was unveiled at Irvine City Hall just last week. For more information about this plan, please visit the “Orange County Great Park” page within the “Take the Tour” section of our website. Mia Lehrer focused on the Botanical Garden itself, describing early concepts for the space and defining the Garden as the heart of the Orange County Great Park. Mary Miss explained the Design Studio’s vision to create and grow the Orange County Great Park as a “living laboratory.” The Great Park will not only be a center in Orange County for social and civic interaction, but a place of learning and exploration. Steven Handel, Ph.D. is plant ecologist. He discussed the importance of restoring the natural heritage of Orange County’s landscape to the Great Park. Handel’s recommendations for the variety of flora at the Great Park will include many native plants, as well as a selection of California friendly species. We are so pleased to have hosted such a successful and enjoyable event, marking the beginning of our outreach to raise public interest, awareness, and support for this important public project. Proceeds from this event will go toward the research, development, and creation of a world-class Botanical Garden at the Orange County Great Park. Posted October 27,2006 Champagne
Reception at our New Headquarters We would like to offer special thanks to several organizations. Thank you to Lennar/LNR, our generous landlords, for making us feel at home in our new offices. A big thank you to Ruben Flores of Visionscape, Inc., who designed and installed our wonderful outdoor lighting at no charge. And a huge thank you to Marty McPhee and everyone at ParkWest Landscape, Inc., for their donation of the beautiful garden walk leading up to our new offices. ParkWest has done numerous commercial and residential landscape development projects in California, Arizona, and Nevada since 1979. We’ve been able to enjoy the trees, plants, and lush green lawn that ParkWest has provided while sitting on the park benches donated by Quick Crete. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to our new offices. We invite you to drop by and visit us at our new headquarters, located at 7290 Trabuco Road in Irvine. Posted October 20,2006 Preliminary
Master Plan Unveiling We look forward to seeing some new and familiar faces on October 14th! Posted October 6,2006 Botanical
Garden at the Orange County Great Park Our focus in the initial phase will be to determine the elements of a world-class, 21st century garden unique to Orange County. In addition to creating something beautiful and inspiring, the Botanical Garden will also be an educational, entertaining, and financially self-sustaining asset for all of Southern California. Situated within the Cultural Terrace area of the Great Park, the Botanical Garden is planned to feature a magnificent selection of plant species. As well, it will include a variety of other features that will make it both appealing and economically sustainable. The Cultural Terrace area within the Great Park is being designed to meet the need for a cultural center in Orange County. This area is slated to include museums, a large amphitheatre, a smaller amphitheatre, and the Botanical Garden at the Orange County Great Park. Posted September 1, 2006 Long
Term Sustainability The goals are: 1. Connection to Nature: Bring nature and recreational opportunities into the greater Orange County area and support the concept of stewardship of our land. 2. Transit-Oriented: Support transit-oriented development in the surrounding community with less-polluting transportation choices and connections within and beyond the Great Park. 3. Biodiversity: Provide ecological habitats and corridors to reflect the local and natural heritage and to enhance biodiversity in the region. 4. Health: Protect and improve the environmental, social, and economic health and productivity of those who visit and work in the park. 5. Energy: Reduce the use of fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases. 6. Air Quality: Improve air quality and minimize noise pollution of both internal and external environments. 7. Water: Protect and conserve both natural and potable water resources. 8. Land: Remediate contaminated areas and develop healthy, living soil. 9. Materials: Minimize the impact of construction materials and the generation of waste and utilize eco-friendly materials in construction. 10. Inclusion: Encourage community education and civic participation so that all visitors can obtain an equivalent experience in the park. 11. Heritage: Instill a sense of place that references the history of the site and the region. 12. Monitoring: Incorporate ongoing measurements and monitoring of key sustainability metrics and provide mechanisms for change. Posted August 18, 2006 The
Great Park as a Laboratory Mary Miss, a world reknowned artist who has long been committed to creating art in public spaces, responded to this idea at the Great Park Advisory Council meeting last month. Miss and the rest of the Design Studio proposed that what people see and learn in the park can be translated into their lives and brought out into the rest of the world. For example, if the Great Park is a model of sustainability and people who visit the Park are exposed to this idea, they will be more likely to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday lives. The Great Park, then, will help visitors explore the idea of overlapping between the microcosm of the Park and the larger macrocosms that surround it. Miss would like to make the idea of sustainability tangible through a research center at the Park where ideas can be investigated; then, the ideas can leave the park through people and be transmitted into the community and the world. This is just one of the many wonderful ideas that will make the Orange County Great Park truly great. Posted July 28, 2006
Stigge says that sustainability consists of three parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and cultural/social sustainability. Environmental sustainability is the type of sustainability on which we tend to focus. It includes everything from preserving open spaces and protecting plant and animal species to creating new places that do the least amount of damage to the natural environment. Economic sustainability is also very important, because there needs to be a source of funding that creates the conditions that promote environmental sustainability. We live in an area that has one of the highest value real estate markets in the world and it takes money to preserve open space and create “green” areas. Cultural/Social sustainability deals with the people who use an amenity. Park users will determine the economic success of the Great Park, so the park must be built in a fashion that will appeal to its constituents on a long-term basis. When these three areas of sustainability are balanced, the Great Park Design Team will be able to build a Great Park for Orange County that will be truly sustainable for generations to come. Posted July 14, 2006
Ken Smith, the lead member of the Great Park Design Team, described the site for the Great Park as a place of awesome beauty, but not in a conventional way. From the park site, one can stand in the middle of a wide, open emptiness and have an unobstructed 360 degree view of hills, mountains, fields, and sky. Smith recalls his first trip to Orange County in the 1980’s, when much of the land was still rural. Today, with houses and strip malls pushing nature to the far limits of Orange County, it is vitally important to preserve wilderness and nature in the heart of the county. The Great Park will be a place of respite and health, a vision similar to the one Frederick Law Olmstead had for New York’s Central Park over one hundred years ago. Olmstead wanted to create a place for hard-working citizens to relax and escape from the pollution of the crowded city. In the twenty-first century, a Great Park of healthful respite will include areas of active recreation as well as sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of our rapidly growing region. The Orange County Great Park will provide such a place for all of Orange County’s citizens. Posted July 7, 2006
Last Thursday, the Great Park Advisory Council, a distinguished group of influential community leaders who represent constituencies from all areas of Orange County, met at an annual meeting to learn about the Great Park Design Team’s latest plans for the Park. During this meeting, several members of the Design Team discussed concept plans, important aspects of the park, and an overview of the site. Presenters included Ken Smith, Mary Miss, Steven Handel, Byron Stigge, Patrick Fuscoe, and Yehuidi “Gaf” Gaffen. Stay tuned to the Conservancy’s website over the next few weeks, as we will be posting detailed information about the presentations made by members of the Great Park Design Team. Topic will include: Building a Sustainable Great Park, A Place for Health and Respite, and The Park as a Laboratory. Posted June 22, 2006
Smith sees the beauty of the Great Park property, a place that touches the mountains and the sky. He has a vision for a Great Park that honors the natural beauty of this remarkable location. In Smith’s vision, visitors will park their cars once, and move around the Great Park on shuttle busses and free “rental” bicycles that will be available throughout the Park. Designing a Great Park means designing a park to serve many functions, and Smith has created a design with several personalities. He sees the Great Park divided into three unique areas: habitat, fields, and a canyon. Posted May 26, 2006 Final
Salute The event will include guided tours of the former Marine Base, a variety of exhibits, and a Friends & Memories Board. Activities will begin at 10:00 am and last until 2:00 pm, with a Farewell Ceremony at 12:00 noon. If you would like to participate in this event, your reply is requested. Please call 949-724-7420, or send an email to finalsalute@ocgp.org. Please include the name and total number of guests in your party. Posted May 5, 2006
Our sold-out event, with over 750 guests, included long-time Great Park supporters as well as many new recruits. The “Jewel” Committee was comprised of nearly one hundred committed men and women who dedicated their time to make the “Jewel” event a grand success. Committee members included co-chairs Teddie Ray and Janet Ray, Michelle Mun, Caroline Jones, Jill Johnson-Tucker, Joni Brice, Donna Cohn, Christine Comp, Peggy Goldwater Clay, Justine Amodeo, Ariela Shani, Kathy Taylor, Dana Agamalian, Debra Ann Nickel, Madaline Gordon, Jill Hankey, Mona Lee Nesseth, and all the Directors of the Great Park Conservancy. Highlights of the evening included a jewelry auction, which was sponsored by jewelry boutiques in Orange County, Los Angeles, and New York, a presentation by guest of honor Ken Smith, the designer for the Orange County Great Park, describing his vision for the Great Park, and a performance by Dave Mason Band. Between underwriters, table sponsors, ticket sales, and a jewelry auction, the event made a net profit of $300,000. Thank you to all of our supporters for making our inaugural event such a stupendous success! Click here to view a list of our top donors for the “Jewel of Orange County.” Posted April 14, 2006
— $25,000
Sponsors — — $10,000
Sponsors — — In
Kind Sponsors — All proceeds from the Jewel of Orange County event benefit the Great Park Conservancy and its mission to generate and maintain public and private support throughout Orange County and beyond for the development and operation of the Orange County Great Park. For more information, please click here. Posted
March 17, 2006 Great
Park Conservancy Advisory Council Grows! City
Members Council
Member Katrina Foley Mayor
Lara Anderson Mayor
Cheryl Brothers Mayor
Robert Bouer Mayor
Fred Freeman Mayor
Lance MacLean Mayor
G. Wayne Eggleston Mayor
Doug Davert Individual
Members Jill Johnson-Tucker David
A. Levine Jeffrey
J. Mosher Colonel
Charles J. Quilter II To view the entire list of the Great Park Advisory Council, visit the Who We Are section of our website. The Board of Directors of the Great Park Conservancy welcomes these distinguished new members to the Advisory Council. With nearly one hundred members, the Advisory Council continues to grow, representing an ever-widening circle of Great Park supporters. Posted March 3, 2006
Posted February 24, 2006
Posted
February 10, 2006 Great
Park Designer Chosen! Smith’s design, which was a public favorite in the OCGP Corporation’s online poll, incorporates several grand features into the Master Plan for the Orange County Great Park. These include a canyon joining the Agua Chinon with a lake and an amphitheatre that faces east across this lake. The design also retains the old runway with fighter planes stationed along its entire length as a linear monument to the military history. The Great Park Operating Board made their decision based on criteria that included a design style that supports community and Great Park Board preferences; the management style of the design team and its staff; display of artistry that supports the vision of the community and the Great Park Board; and a demonstration of project experience sufficient to design the Great Park. A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for Spring of 2006. Posted January 25, 2006
This competition seeks to support and enhance the study of sustainable and energy-efficient building practices in architectural education. Both students and instructors will use the competition as a framework to explore the use of new eco-friendly materials and strategies for building high-performance, cutting-edge architecture. How wonderful that student architects and their instructors across the country are interested in the Orange County Great Park! This is an exciting and unique opportunity to integrate Green Building practices into education. Good luck to all of the competitors! For more information, visit the Leading Edge Competition website. Posted January 13, 2006
If you are interested in attending this public session, it will be held at Irvine Civic Center, which is located at One Civic Center Plaza, Irvine. The meeting will take place in the Council Chambers at 10 am. Posted January 6, 2006
Orange County residents can look forward to the final stage of the Great Park Design Competition as the Great Park Operating Board selects a Master Designer. In their meeting on Thursday, December 15, 2005, the Operating Board discussed the possibility of creating a coalition of the three finalist design teams that would design the Master Plan for the Orange County Great Park. This would mean that the Great Park would benefit from the design expertise of Ken Smith, EMBT, and Royston Hanamoto. The Operating Board will revisit this issue during their meeting on January 23, 2006. The Great Park Conservancy plans to hold its first major community event, “The Jewel of Orange County,” on Friday, April 7, 2006. The primary purpose of this event is to celebrate the Orange County Great Park. It is intended to be a “Friend Raiser,” bringing together support from the surrounding communities for the Park’s creation. Funds raised through the event will be used toward the Conservancy’s efforts to promote the Great Park throughout Orange County. The Great Park Conservancy wishes you a very happy holiday season and a joyful new year!
On December 12, 2005, the Great Park Corporate Board will meet in public session to begin the process of reaching a consensus on the winning design team for the Orange County Great Park. At this meeting, the Operating Board will listen to public comment as a part of their decision making process. The Corporate Board is on the verge of making an important decision that will shape the future of Orange County. The Conservancy urges you to attend the meeting on December 12th and, if you wish, make public comment. Your opinion is valuable and important in shaping the Orange County Great Park, a park for all of Orange County’s residents. Make your voice heard. Posted December 2, 2005
The goals for these visits centered on three things: 1) Meet the design teams on their home turf and observe how they work and create together; 2) View the firm’s evolving concept designs and ask questions specific to their plans; and 3) Visit examples of their design work. According to Great Park Operating Board Vice Chair, Dr. Michael Pinto, all three goals were accomplished on this trip and the Operating Board was impressed with what they saw. On December 12, the entire Board will meet in public session to discuss observations, review staff and consultant reports, and begin the process of reaching a consensus on the winning design team. At this meeting, the Operating Board will listen to public comment as a part of their decision making process. Posted November 18, 2005
Update: Click here to view photos from the Neiman Marcus Event. On Thursday, November 3, 2005, the Great Park Conservancy announced their first major fundraising event, “The Jewel of Orange County.” On this day, Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island hosted a kick-off breakfast, during which time some sixty active philanthropists from throughout Orange County gathered to discuss the success of the “Jewel” event, which is scheduled to take place in early April of 2006. The theme of the “Jewel,” which signifies the Orange County Great Park, will be woven into different aspects of the event. The special guest speaker at the kick-off event was New York Central Park Conservancy’s Director of the Women’s Committee, Lydia Thomas. Ms. Thomas shared some of her experiences of working on numerous events in support of New York’s Central Park. She encouraged participants to get involved and be a part of this exciting once-in-a-lifetime project that will be a legacy for the entire community. Sisters-in-law Teddie Ray and Janet Ray worked with Ariela Shani, Vice President and General Manager of Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island to organize the kick-off celebration. Teddie and Janet will continue to work together, acting as co-chairs for “The Jewel of Orange County.” Although the event will be primarily a “friend raiser” designed to engage residents from all over Orange County in the creation of the Great Park, the Conservancy also hopes to raise funds through a silent auction. In keeping with the “Jewel” theme, all the auctioned pieces will be fine jewelry from leading boutiques of the world. Caroline Jones, store manager of Cartier South Coast Plaza will chair the Jewelry Auction Steering Committee. More information about the April event will be posted on our website as it becomes available. Posted November 4, 2005
The following is a list that includes many of Lennar’s goals for the public/private partnership of the Great Park and the Great Park Community. These are just some of the concepts that are being considered; this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. 1. A super-sized Great Park—expanded in terms of both actual and perceived size. 2. Capital funding sufficient to build a greater Great Park. 3. Annual operating funding sufficient to maintain a truly Great Park. 4. A Great Park Community plan that will not cause delay in both the commencement and build-out of the overall plan. 5. A Great Park that celebrates the military history of the former MCAS El Toro. 6. A Great Park that celebrates the agricultural heritage of Orange County. 7. A Great Park that has a strong visual and physical connectivity with the Wildlife Refuge and adjacent open space areas. 8. A Great Park that provides a home for museums, recreational training and other learning facilities of regional significance. 9. A Great Park that acknowledges the needs of the County’s equestrian community. 10. A Great Park that has room to grow and improve within a dynamic Orange County. 11. Ability to enhance/expand the “windows” into the Great Park from adjacent transportation corridors. 12. A cost-effective, multi-modal transportation system with access to and circulation within the Great Park, but without having to rely on the automobile. 13. A Great Park that can serve as a thematic “town square” for Orange County. 14. A Great Park that has both strong defining edges and seamless integration with adjacent development areas. 15. An overall Great Park Community that acknowledges and protects the quality of life for local residents—a good neighbor. 16. A Great Park Community that enjoys broad-based community support. 17. A Great Park Community that is a model for conscious sustainable design. 18. A Great Park Community that will be a major source of community pride, both locally and throughout the region. Posted October 21, 2005
Rick T. Hume ASLA is the founder of Frederick Thomas Hume - Landscape Architecture, Design & Planning. He has received awards and honors from the American Society of Landscape Architects, the California Parks and Recreation Society, the Sigma Lambda Alpha Honor Society, and the American Planning Association. Mr. Hume is the former President of the Southern California Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He also serves as a trustee and director on the boards of several civic and professional organizations. Tim Paone of Manatt, Phelps & Philips, LLP is an attorney who specializes in land development. His legal background includes not only an extensive resume in land use entitlement, but also many years of experience as a land use litigator. He has been a governor’s appointee to the California Law Revision Commission, as well as a planning commissioner and planning commission chairman. Mr. Paone’s current practice emphasizes the entitlement of master planned communities, Coastal Zone projects, and infill development. The Great Park Conservancy is pleased to welcome these two new Directors to its Board. Posted October 7, 2005 Three Architectural Design Firms Picked as Semi-Finalists in Orange County Great Park Competition At its meeting Wednesday, the Orange County Great Park Operating Board unanimously selected three world-renowned landscape design firms as semi-finalists to compete to be the Master Designer of the Orange County Great Park. The three firms selected as semi-finalists are Mirrales Tagliabue EMBT of Barcelona, Spain; Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey of Mill Valley, California; and Ken Smith, Landscape Architect of New York in partnership with Ten-Arquitectos of Mexico City, Mary Miss Studio of New York and Mia Lehrer and Associates of Los Angeles. Click here for detailed information about the three design concepts. Posted September 30, 2005 Great Park Designs This Thursday and Friday, September 22nd and 23rd, the semi-finalists for the Great Park Design Competition presented their designs to the Great Park Operating Board and members of the public. The presentations, which took place over the course of two days, allowed time for the competing designers to share their visions for the Orange County Great Park and to answer questions about their designs. Before the end of the year, the designer for the Orange County Great Park will be selected from the seven semi-finalists. The seven designs were on display at Irvine City Hall until the 21st of September. If you missed the design display, we would be happy to send you a brochure that features all seven designs. Please drop us an email or give us a call at 714.544.5410 and provide us with your name and address. Posted September 23, 2005
Posted September 16, 2005
Beginning September 12, 2005, the public will have several opportunities to see and comment on the proposed designs for the Orange County Great Park. These designs were created by seven of the world’s leading landscape architecture firms that are competing to become the Master designer for the Great Park. Orange County residents can review the proposed designs at the following times: 1. Art boards featuring many of the design concepts will be on display at Irvine City Hall between September 12 and 21 from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday thru Friday. 2. On September 22 and 23, each of the competitors will present their designs to the Great Park Operating Board at Irvine City Hall. Both days, the presentation will last from 8:30am to 5:00pm. The public can also review the designs on the Internet and participate in an online poll to determine the popular preferences for the Great Park design. Posted September 9, 2005 Design
Competition Public Meetings The public meetings will be held on September 22 and 23 at Irvine Civic Center. After these meetings, the designs will be on display at Irvine Civic Center. It is anticipated that the Corporation’s Board of Directors will select the winner of the Great Park Design Competition in October. We encourage you to be involved in the process of creating the Great Park by attending one of these meetings and viewing the possible designs for the Orange County Great Park. Posted August 19, 2005 Great
Parks Around the World Participants were asked what they would consider to be the “Great Parks” of the world that they had visited and what had made them special. The parks they mentioned included San Diego’s Balboa Park, London’s Hyde Park (England), New York’s Central Park, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Chicago’s Millennium Park, Los Angeles’s Griffith Park, Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park (Mexico), and Victoria Island’s Butchart Gardens (Canada). What had made these parks special, according to the participants, were their unique features and attractions, their overall feel, and a balanced and safe environment. To learn more about these parks, visit the Learning from Other Great Parks section of our website. Posted August 12, 2005 Community
Visioning Report Released 1. Think Globally, Act Locally – The Great Park should attract visitors from around the world, but fulfill the recreational needs of Orange County 2. Strong Support for a Mix of Active and Passive Uses – Lakes, gardens, picnic areas, hiking, biking and jogging trails rank high. Facilities for amateur outdoor sports have a lower priority, but residents desire both. 3. No Single Theme Should Dominate the Great Park – Stakeholders and residents believe the park is large enough to feature several themes. The top three themes that emerged were: a town square for Orange County, celebrating the history of Orange County, and honoring the veterans. 4. The Great Park should be a Place for Arts and Culture – Outdoor art, sculpture, and traditional museum facilities are popular ideas. 5. Keep it Open Day and Night – Provide venues for outdoor concerts and evening activities. Create an environment that has good lighting and security. 6. Green is Good, but Keep it Accessible – Create a park with an internal transportation system that limits automobile traffic but allows for easy accessibility to all areas of the park. 7. Don’t Compete with Disneyland – Orange County has many commercial entertainment venues; more are not needed. In terms of amenities, cafes and “low key” facilities are preferable. 8. Give it Time to Grow – Residents and stakeholders want to allow enough time to create a well-planned and inclusive Great Park. They want flexibility included in the design process to accommodate changing needs and tastes. “The Great Park design process offers an excellent opportunity to inform and engage the public,” said Irvine Mayor Beth Krom. “Continuing public involvement in the planning process and the dissemination of information is key to maintaining public support for the Great Park.” To obtain a complete copy of the Great Park Community Visioning Report, please visit the Great Park Corporation. Posted August 5, 2005 Lennar
and EDAW Present to Operating Board Santos discussed the importance of community involvement in the planning process for public space. They are striving to create an area that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. In order to fulfill these goals, they have outlined a variety of mandates for the design process of the area surrounding the Great Park, including making the area accessible and appealing to a spectrum of generations, cultures and economic groups. EDAW’s early conceptual design designates three main districts around the Great Park: the Life-long Learning District, the Transit-Oriented Development District, and the Parks District. As a way of creating levels and variety, EDAW’s design highlights the diversity of these three districts. Their plan is to create unique pockets instead of one homogenous locale. One theme that Bob Santos focused on was that of stewardship. In order to achieve environmental, social and economic stability, there must be dedication within the community for the Great Park to succeed. We have seen that dedication over the past decade and will surely see it flourish as the idea of the Great Park transforms into an even greater reality. Posted July 29, 2005 Join
the Conservancy Now is the time to get involved! The reality of the Great Park is the result of more than a decade of dedication from Orange County residents. But the job is far from over. Now that Lennar has purchased the land and they have transferred a substantial portion back to public ownership, it is time to build the Orange County Great Park. Join the Great Park Conservancy! Our role is to operate as an all-inclusive, public benefit corporation engaged in activities to support the planning, development, financing and operation of the park. In doing so, we involve residents from all over Orange County to ensure a regional focus for the Great Park. And we support the vision of the Great Park as a wonderful public amenity that will offer something for everyone, no matter what his or her age, economic circumstance, or place of residence. If you’re not already a Friend of the Great Park, click here to send us an email with your name and address, and we will add you to our mailing list immediately. Or, if you or your friends would like to sign up to receive weekly emails, click here and provide us with your email address. Let’s build the Great Park, Orange County! Posted July 22, 2005 Escrow
Closes & Lennar Transfers Great Park Land Under the terms of the development agreement, Heritage Fields, LLC is granted limited development rights in return for the land and capital that will allow the construction of the Orange County Great Park. The development fees received by the City of Irvine will pay for the construction of the Great Park’s public facilities and infrastructure. “Today’s
events will underscore the successful partnership that was forged between
the federal government, the City of Irvine and a private company, Heritage
Fields, LLC,” said Irvine Mayor Beth Krom. “This partnership
will create the nation’s next great metropolitan park without
placing an addition burden on taxpayers.” Posted July 15, 2005 A
Great Green Park Green building is quickly becoming one of the most talked about issues in development today and is a viable option for the construction of the Orange County Great Park and its facilities. Although there is no precise definition for Green building, there are guidelines for what projects fall into the Green building category and the U.S. Green Building Council rates projects across the nation on their environmental savvy. When
creating a Green design, architects often focus on the following concerns: By utilizing principles like those listed above, architects are able to design structures that can be built and maintained with a fraction of the energy that would be expended in traditional building practices. This means that both the developers and the tenants of the buildings save their money and the environment. To be successful, an integrated approach to design and construction must start at the beginning of a project. According to Dr. Pinto, it is noteworthy that principles of Sustainable Development and Green Construction were adopted by the Great Park Corporation Board and included in the RFP sent to the seven design finalists for the Orange County Great Park. Posted July 8, 2005 Upcoming
Summer Meetings Design
Finalists Reception O.C.
Great Park Corporation Committee of the Whole Meeting Great
Park Corporation Board Meeting CANCELLED All meetings will be held at Irvine Civic Center. For directions, call 949.724.6000. These public meetings will give you an opportunity to learn more about what’s happening at the Orange County Great Park. Also, if you want to share your ideas, you can do so during the public comments session at the Corporation Board Meeting. Posted July 1, 2005 Winning
Bidder, Lennar, Hosts Community Workshop While the focus for the day was to help Lennar envision what should be built on their portion of the land, there was also much discussion concerning what should be included at the Great Park. In broad terms, Lennar defined four areas that need to be addressed: • Employment & Jobs Lennar representatives asserted that one of the most important constituents for the park will be those individuals who live and work in the communities within and surrounding the park. Lennar is committed to creating a great community around the Great Park — a community that will reinforce and support the park. Lennar is particularly interested in how the Great Park project will improve the general quality of life in Orange County. There will be a good deal of time and effort spent in the conceptual and strategic planning stages of development in order to ensure that the Orange County community will end up with a park that will serve a large variety of needs and interests. Posted June 24, 2005 Seven
Top Architectural Firms Picked as Finalists in Orange County Great Park
Competition The seven firms selected as finalists are:
“We have moved one step closer to finding the Frederick Law Olmstead of the 21st century — a Master Designer with the talent and vision to give Orange County a park that will serve the needs of our local residents and become a destination for travelers from around the globe,” said Larry Agran, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation. Dr. Hamid Shirvani, FASLA, FRSA, FRGS, Provost and Professor of Architecture at Chapman University, a consultant who organized the design jury said, “Our candidates included 24 of the most highly respected design firms from throughout the world. The firms were evaluated on a number of criteria, including references, national and international awards and recognition, qualifications of principals who will work on the Great Park, and the firm’s design philosophy and portfolio. The jury did an excellent job in presenting the Board of Directors with a list of seven firms that are highly qualified and will present the people of Orange County a very wide range of design concepts.” The design jury’s recommendations will be formally presented to the Board of Directors for their approval on June 23, 2005. All board meetings of the Orange County Great Park Corporation are open to the public. Posted June 17, 2005 Design
Competition Underway Today, June 10, a panel of architects selected by the OCGP Corporation will review these submissions and select six semi-finalists for the design competition. Each of these half-dozen contenders will be paid a $50,000 stipend from the Corporation to shape their vision into a solidified plan for the Orange County Great Park. The final proposals will be due to the Corporation this September. By encouraging an international competition, the OCGP Corporation will have the opportunity to draw from worldwide talent. The design for the Orange County Great Park will tap into the creativity of not only our own renowned architects, landscape architects and park designers, but also accomplished individuals and companies from all over the world. Posted June 10, 2005 Great
Park Amenities Great Park funds will be used to prepare certain areas of the park for development, creating infrastructure and groundwork. One of these areas is the Museum District. The actual museum facilities, including buildings and collections, will be privately financed. Building a Great Park for Orange County is a dream that is quickly becoming a reality. Working together, the citizens of Orange County, the City of Irvine, the OCGP Corporation and the Great Park Conservancy can ensure that the Great Park realizes its full potential and becomes one of America’s finest metropolitan parks. Posted June 3, 2005 Irvine
Refutes Los Angeles’s Final Appeal Irvine
City leaders condemned efforts announced today by the Los Angeles City
Council to take control of the closed El Toro Marine Base for the purpose
of operating a commercial airport. Posted May 20, 2005 Thank
You to our Supporters You can still sign up to be a part of our Web Community any time. Just click on any of the “Contact Us” buttons throughout the site and ask to be added to our email mailing list. Also, if you’re not currently receiving the Great Park Conservancy’s quarterly newsletter, you can request to be added to our regular mailing list by sending us your mailing address. Posted May 13, 2005 Make
A Donation Today! If you haven’t already made a donation to the Great Park Conservancy, consider these benefits: 1. Your donation will go toward one of the largest projects in Orange County’s history. 2. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Posted May 13, 2005 Corporation
Announces Jury Panel This panel will review applications from thirty-eight internationally known landscape architecture and design firms from around the world that have been specifically invited to submit their qualifications, as well applications received from other qualified design firms. The Orange County Great Park Design Jury Panel Members include: Chairperson: Dr. Hamid Shirvani, FASLA, FRSA, AICP, Martha Masters Professor of Art and Architecture at Chapman University Dr. Diane Ghirardo, Professor of Architecture at USC Dr. Mark Francis, FASLA, Professor of Landscape Architecture at UC Davis George Bissell, FAIA, President of Bissell Architects in Newport Beach Dan Heinfeld, FAIA, President of LPA Irvine Michael Rotondi, FAIA, founder of Morphosis Linda Pollak, AIA, ASLA Associate, Partner, Marpillero/Park Architects, New York Posted May 6, 2005 Great
Park Design Process Begins Thirty-eight internationally known landscape architects and design firms have been specifically invited to submit their qualifications, and any qualified design firm is also invited to submit its qualifications. Dr. Hamid Shirvani, Provost and Professor of Architecture at Chapman University, has been retained to assemble a design jury of respected academics, architects, and designers to review the submissions. The jury panel and Dr. Shirvani will recommend six semi-finalists, from which the OCGP Operating Board will choose the Master Designer for the Orange County Great Park. Each of the semi-finalists selected by the jury will be provided a stipend to develop a conceptual design plan for the Great Park. A second design jury will review the designs and make recommendations to the Board of Directors of the OCGP Operating Board. In October, the Board will select a Master Designer for the Great Park and the winning designer will be commissioned to fully develop all the schematics, implementation designs, plans, and other necessary documents. All conceptual design proposals will be on public display at Irvine City Hall, as well as other locations throughout Orange County, and the OCGP Operating Board’s website. The public is encouraged to review proposals and provide feedback. Public comments will be summarized and reported to the Board of Directors to assist them in the selection process. Posted April 29, 2005 Getting
Involved in the Process Here are just a few options you have if you want your voice to be heard. 1. Use your computer. Over the Internet, you can contact both the Great Park Conservancy and the OCGP Operating Board with your suggestions and ideas for the Orange County Great Park. 2. Go to meetings. All of the OCGP Operating Board’s meetings are open to the public. By attending these meetings, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the planning process for the Orange County Great Park. Email us for information about these meetings. 3. Stay connected. Sign up for a weekly email update from the Great Park Conservancy by clicking here and providing us with your email address. Posted April 29, 2005 We’re
Growing! As we pursue our Great Park advocacy campaign, one of the most effective and economical ways to keep residents throughout Orange County informed and involved is through our website and email. Internet technology allows us to reach our supporters and constituents with important information and updates at virtually no cost. If you are not already receiving our weekly email, please click here to send us a request. By joining our Web Community, you will get an email every Friday with an update about the Orange County Great Park and a link to our website, www.orangecountygreatpark.org. Also, if you would like to get your friends, family and co-workers involved in the Great Park Conservancy, you can either send us their email addresses by clicking here or ask them to visit our website. Posted April 22, 2005 Three
French Parks On Reused Land During the presentation of “Three French Parks on Reused Land,” Board Member Sullivan shared the knowledge he gained about world-class Parisian parks during a research-oriented tour of European parks last summer. Each of the three parks that Board Member Sullivan discussed had something in common with the Orange County Great Park; it had been built on land that had once been heavily industrialized. The three parks were: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, which had been built on a mined-out gypsum quarry, Parc de la Villette, which was constructed around the old Paris slaughterhouse district, and Park Andre Citroen, which took the place of the Citroen Motorcar factory. Guests enjoyed the light-hearted but educational atmosphere that Board Member Sullivan created at these events. In both Fullerton and Laguna Woods, the formal presentations were followed by a lively question and answer session, during which audience members delved into Sullivan’s knowledge of world-class parks and shared their own thoughts and ideas about the Orange County Great Park. Thank you to Cal State University Fullerton and the City of Laguna Woods for all your help with our Community Forum, “Three French Parks on Reused Land.” Posted April 15, 2005 Pieces
of the Puzzle Parcel One, which totals 902 acres, sold for $125 million. This parcel includes areas that will be used for agriculture, educational facilities, the Sports Park and a portion of the traditional parkland area known as the Meadows Park. Parcel Two, which totals 1,752 acres, sold for $310.5 million. This portion of the Great Park will be used for the Memorial Park, golf courses, a commercial recreation area and agriculture. This is the parcel that contains the Federal Nature Preserve and Wildlife Corridor. Parccel Three, which totals 863 acres, sold for $154 million. Parcel Three includes land for the Museum District, part of the Meadows Park and Sports Park, and transit oriented development. Parcel Four, which totals 202 acres, sold for $60 million. The smallest of the four parcels, Parcel Four will contain a portion of the Wildlife Corridor as well as a Research and Development Center. Posted April 8, 2005 Community
Forum Reminder Both events are free and open to the public. North
County: South
County: Posted April 1, 2005 Corporation
Releases Updated Timeline March 14 – Navy completed review of Lennar Corp.’s bid and sent an "award letter," setting dates and amounts when money must be paid to complete the purchase of El Toro. March 29 – 10 percent of purchase price – $64.9 million – due to Navy. Lennar already has paid $27 million. July 12 – Balance of $649.5 million total due to Navy; Lennar takes over ownership. 2006 – Work expected to begin on Great Park roads and utilities. 2007 – Beginning of construction on parks and development 2008 – First housing ready for sale; some parks ready for use. Posted March 25, 2005 Conservancy Hosts Advisory Council Dinner “We
have an opportunity to do something truly spectacular that can have
an impact on our entire country, not just our community.” This
year’s dinner featured a panel of speakers, including: Irvine
Mayor Beth Krom, Irvine Council Member Larry Agran, and Great Park
Corporation Board Member Dick Sim. Also included on the panel were
Michael Pinto, Vice Chair of both the Great Park Corporation and
the Great Park Conservancy, Bob Santos, Regional Executive Vice President
of Lennar Corporation, and Wally Kreutzen, newly appointed CEO of
the Great Park Corporation. The panelists presented a progress report
of the Great Park and discussed their ideas with the Great Park Advisory
Council. Advisory Council members had the opportunity to ask questions
and share their ideas, as well. Conservancy
to Host New Community Forum Series North
County: Conservancy
Welcomes The
Great Park Conservancy’s Board of Directors is responsible
for the stewardship of the organization. Its other members include:
Board Chair Michael D. Ray, President of Sanderson J. Ray Corporation;
Vice Chair Michael Pinto, President of the Laguna Canyon Foundation
and Vice Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Operating
Board; Thomas H. Nielsen, President of The Nielsen Company; Ed
Dornan, Orange County writer and educator; John Katkish, President
of First Management Group; James “Walkie” Ray, Partner
in Sanderson J. Ray Development; and John Sullivan, Communications
Counsel. In the coming months, the Board of Directors will lead
the Great Park Conservancy in raising money to augment the development
at the Orange County Great Park. Great
Park Land Auction Ends Great
Park Auction Nearly Complete The
remaining two parcels, which make up a total of about 2,500 acres,
are still in the bidding process. Last-minute bidders are keeping
the auction lively; it is impossible to say exactly when the auction
will conclude. Measure W’s public uses on these two parcels
include: a portion of the central green park, museum and cultural
facilities, a sports park, a memorial park, a recreation park, and
part of the wildlife corridor. Grand
Jury Coto de Caza Philharmonic Society Orange County residents with many different interests are becoming more and more excited about groundbreaking at the Great Park. On Tuesday, January 18th, the Great Park Conservancy shared its PowerPoint presentation with members of the Coto de Caza Committee of the Orange County Philharmonic Society. Members of the Philharmonic Society expressed interest in many aspects of the Great Park, but especially in when the auction will close and when groundbreaking will begin. With the start of the auction right on schedule, we are confident that during the 2005 calendar year, we will see significant progress for the Great Park. The City of Irvine projects that escrow on the land will close and the property will be transferred sometime in mid-2005. At that time, a groundbreaking can take place and construction can begin on the Great Park. Posted January 19, 2005 Vice-Chair
Presents to BDAOC Conservancy
Presents at CSUF El Toro On
Friday, January 7, 2005, the Great Park Conservancy shared our PowerPoint
presentation with some of Cal State Fullerton El Toro’s newest
students at their Special Academic Advisement Session. During the
question and answer session following the presentation, students
were especially interested to know whether CSUF El Toro would continue
to expand at the Great Park site. El Toro campus Director and Great
Park Advisory Council member George Giacumakis, Ph.D. was on hand
to explain that Cal State officials are to working to expand the
campus on the 276-acre education parcel at the Great Park. Great
Park Auction Begins Now that the land sale has officially begun, it will be up to the bidders to determine who will own the land at the Great Park. Potential buyers will be able to bid on four parcels of land, which range from 200 to 1700 acres, at the former Marine Base. The land could be sold to as few as one bidder or as many as four. Since the parcels are so large, Heritage Fields has provided resources for bidders to engage in partnerships. However, no matter who purchases the land, a large percentage will be dedicated back to public uses for the Great Park, as envisioned by Measure W. Registered
bidders are competing for the valuable land at the former El Toro Marine
Base by posting their bids on the auction’s website. Bidders
can post offers twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week until the
auction closes. Unregistered parties can track the progress of the
auction here. Because of the
nature of this land sale, it is impossible to say exactly when the
auction will end; however, the City of Irvine projects that escrow
on the land will close and property will be transferred in July of
2005. At that time, a groundbreaking can take place and construction
can begin on the Orange County Great Park. For more information on
the bidding process, visit the Heritage
Fields website. Good
News!!!
Source: Heritage
Fields Dr.
Michael Brown Presents Green Building Principles at Community Forum Perimeter
Project This
endeavor is the first in a series of pieces that will provide a “before
and after” perspective of the El Toro property. Portions of the
work will be on display in exhibitions at Angel’s Gate in San
Pedro and the Irvine Fine Arts Center next spring. Since
April of 2002, the Legacy Group has shot about 60,000 photographs documenting
the exteriors, interiors and open spaces of every component of the
former El Toro Marine Base. The Great Park Conservancy salutes the
efforts of the Legacy Group as they work to preserve a part of Orange
County’s history. Town
Hall Meetings with Council
Member Gus Ayer Invites the Conservancy to Fountain Valley Chairman
Michael Ray Panelist for O.C.
Fair Thank
you to our volunteers. Symposium
Series Orange County residents have already heard from Dr. Hamid Shirvani, FASLA, AICP, Provost of Art and Architecture at Chapman University; Professor Alexander Garvin, Adjunct Professor of Urban Planning and Management at Yale University; Professor Niall Kirkwood, Chair of the department of Landscape Architecture at Harvard Design School; and Dr. Michael Brown, an environmental management consultant to industry and government. Future
symposium speakers will be announced in this column as they are scheduled. Conservancy
Dinner Thank
you Professor Kirkwood, Mayor Miguel Pulido and Laura Saari, the Great
Park Corporation and Avila’s El Ranchito! Bus
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