Orange County Great Park Community Visioning Report Released
Stakeholders and General Public Agree on
Eight Elements
to be Included in Design of Great Park
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Maryann Maloney
July 29, 2005
949-375-0856
IRVINE – The Orange County Great Park
Corporation today released its Community Visioning Report that finds
county residents prefer that open space, public swimming pools, sports
facilities, cultural and community amenities, major outdoor theatre and
botanical gardens be considered in developing the Orange County Great
Park. Phase one, which included an extensive public involvement
campaign conducted from mid-May to late June that asked Orange County
residents, community leaders and organizations what they thought would
make a Great Park, is now complete.
“Since its inception the
Orange County Great Park Corporation has encouraged public involvement
and participation in every phase of designing, building and operating
the Orange County Great Park,” said Larry Agran, the Corporation’s
chairman. “This important information will now be given to each of the
seven design firms competing to be master designer of the Great Park.
Design concepts are to reflect what the people of Orange County want to
have and see in their Great Park.”
Phase one of the
community visioning process consisted of an outreach program for county
stakeholders and an opinion survey of the general public. A
Stakeholders visioning process solicited park design concepts and park
elements of particular significance from a broad range of individuals
and organizations interested in the Great Park. Information developed
during the stakeholders’ visioning process was used to create
questionnaires to conduct the public opinion surveys via telephone and
on the Internet.
More than 130 community
leaders participated in nine focus group planning sessions, over 200
individuals representing community organizations were represented at
the stakeholders conference, and 600 respondents contributed to the
countywide public opinion poll.
The Great Park Community
Visioning Report show that stakeholders and the general public agree on
the following eight points:
Think Globally, Act Locally
The Great Park should
attract visitors from around the world, but fulfill the recreational
needs of Orange County.
Lakes, gardens, picnic
areas, hiking, biking, and jogging trails rank high. Facilities for
amateur outdoor sports have a lower priority, but residents want both.
Stakeholders and
residents believe the park is large enough to feature several themes: A
town square for Orange County, celebrating the history and heritage of
Orange County, and honoring our veterans emerged as top three themes.
Outdoor art, sculpture
and traditional museums facilities are popular features.
Provide venues for
outdoor concerts and evening activities. Create an environment that has
good lighting and security.
Create a park with an
internal transportation system that limits automobile traffic but
allows for easy accessibility to all areas of the park.
Orange County already has
many commercial entertainment venues; more are not needed. In terms of
amenities, cafes and “low key” facilities are preferable.
Give it Time to Grow
Residents and
stakeholders want to allow enough time to create a well-planned
inclusive Great Park. They want flexibility included in the design
process to accommodate changing needs and tastes.
“The Great Park design
process offers and excellent opportunity to inform and engage the
public,” said Beth Krom, mayor of Irvine. “Continuing public
involvement in the planning process and the dissemination of
information is key to maintaining public support for the Great Park.”
Upon completion, the Orange County Great Park will be the transformation of part of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro into a major metropolitan park. It will be the focal point of revitalization for a military facility designated for closure more than a decade ago. The redevelopment of more than 3,700 acres of land in the geographic center of Orange County will represent a unique partnership between the local Irvine California community, the federal government and a private landowner, the Lennar Corporation. In addition to the 1,316-acre, publicly owned Great Park, the former El Toro base, now named Heritage Fields, will include residential, business and retail uses developed by Lennar, an educational campus, wildlife corridors, and other public recreation uses. The Great Park itself is being planned and developed by the Orange County Great Park Corporation
To obtain a complete copy
of Great Park Community Visioning Report please go to www.ocgp.org.