Western Sector Park Development Plan
Phase I Construction

On October 22, 2009, the Orange County Great Park Board approved $65.5 million in construction projects to develop 200 acres of land that will enhance the visitors’ experience at the Great Park. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011 with a number of features to be completed by the end of 2010.

This project builds on the 27.5-acre existing Preview Park. The plan focuses on building out a core section of the park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit. Access to the park will continue during construction, as it has since the park was opened. Visitors will experience the Park while it grows, getting a unique view of its development from on the ground as well as from the Great Park Balloon.

The first phase of major park development will offer a wide variety of experiences for Great Park visitors. As planned, families will be able to take their kids to a soccer match in the Sports Park, have lunch in the historic Hangar 244 or the Picnic Meadow, ride the Great Park Balloon, attend an art exhibition in the Palm Court, take a walk through the Great Park Farm, and buy some fresh produce at the farmers market.

The approved construction plan includes the following elements:

• Phase 1 of the Sports Park. A South Lawn containing three lighted soccer fields and a North Lawn multi-purpose sports field suitable for three additional soccer fields. Sports Park improvements will also include the 9-acre “Timeline West” featuring shade structures, seating, trees and a Class II bike trail.

• The Palm Court area and Arts & Culture Exhibition Space. The Palm Court will be a formal area within the Great Park used for special event programming, arts and cultural exhibitions, and every day use. The space -- defined by the existing flanking squadron buildings to the north and south and Hangar 244 to the east – will accommodate uses including art and culture exhibitions and flexible-use space.

• Great Park Farms and Citrus Orchard. A 100-acre working farm designed to provide fresh, locally grown organic produce to the public and to area food banks will be bordered by a 2500-tree orange orchard – the orchard will be planted with trees that have been donated through the Great Park Conservancy. The site will be graded to construct water quality basins and provide soil amendments suitable for farming. Facilities and site features will be provided in the agriculture area to enhance farm maintenance operations, provide interpretive elements, and plant the proposed water quality basin.

• Agricultural Pavilion. The Agricultural Pavilion will be an iconic Park structure located in the Park’s western section. The current program concept is to create a grand permanent structure that will serve as an “upscale” roadside farm stand as well as a community networking center. The facility will be capable of accommodating many different agricultural and cultural purposes, including but not limited to a produce stand for the Great park farmer to sell farm items, a Wi-Fi connected meeting space and a café.

• Community Gardens and Food and Farm Lab Exhibitions. A 1.5-acre Community Garden will be located directly west of the existing Farm and Food Lab and adjacent to “C” Street. The community Garden will consist of small soil plots where local community members can grow their own garden. Decomposed granite pathways, interpretive signage, and seating will be located throughout the area. In addition, enhancement to the 1.5-acre Farm and Food Lab include additional features within the existing area to activate the site further for programs and educational activities.

• Picnic Meadow. A 14-acre play and picnic area with large shade trees will be developed adjacent to the Festival Event site.

• Transportation, Access and Parking. A number of transportation, access and parking improvements will be made, including:

• Central Timeline. A 5-acre area of runway connecting the Preview Park to the new Park Farms will be upgraded with shade structures, trees and planters.
• Marine Way and “C” Street improvement plans will be prepared. Pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety upgrades to existing Marine Way from Sand Canyon to “C” Street are included.
• A 5-acre pedestrian/bus drop-off and parking for 120 cars with access to the Sports Park.
• Additional parking in and around the Sports Park area.

• Runway Removal. Runways will be demolished as necessary to complete the Western Sector Park Development Plan (Phase 1).

• Utilities and Infrastructure. New Park infrastructure for recycled water and electrical power will be constructed to support the Western Sector Park Development Plan (Phase 1). Recycled water will be provided to agricultural areas and along the Timeline to the westerly edge of the existing Preview Park. Power will be provided form the Festival Event site to the vicinity of the Timeline West.

• The Lake. The design of the Lake will be modified to enable it to serve as a reservoir for Park irrigation. The development plans include funding of these design modifications and the entitlement process prior to construction.

Source: Orange County Great Park Corporation.