One of the largest development projects in the U.S.
IRVINE, Calif., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange County Great Park Board
Corporation Chair Larry Agran today delivered his fourth annual State of the
Great Park address. While Chair Agran's comments reviewed the Park's history,
accomplishments, and recent awards, his focus today was more on another Great
Park milestone - the upcoming development of 500 acres of the Park. With the
funding already in place, the Great Park Board, followed by the City Council,
will consider the project beginning in September.
"We are proud to launch a $61 million construction project at the Orange
County Great Park," said Chair Agran. "Over the next few years, we will
create a 100-acre Great Park Community Farm, a Sports Park with tournament
level soccer fields, the site preparation for a 20-acre lake, cultural
terrace, botanical terrace and large performance area. The Orange County
Great Park is one of the largest development projects of its kind in the
United States. We will be putting thousands of people to work when work is
desperately needed."
"I release my annual report today with distinct pleasure because it
demonstrates and confirms the great strides forward in creating, right here in
Irvine, in the heart of Orange County, the largest, most compelling
metropolitan park built in America in the past 100 years."
"Last year, attendance exceeded 150,000 people. With the addition of Cirque
du Soleil, the Great Park Community Farm and certain features of the Sports
Park, plus natural growth in Park attendance, we expect the annual number of
Park visitors to reach 300,000."
The key points of Chair Agran's message regarding the Park's next construction
steps included:
-- "The activation of the Great Park Sports Park by constructing
tournament-quality soccer fields. Four of the fields should be
operational by the end of next year."
-- "The 100-acre Great Park Community Farm. The Community Farm will
be a working farm to grow food to benefit the general public and
provide
high-quality produce for individuals and families. The food will
stock
the Second Harvest Food Bank and Orange County Food Bank."
-- "The Lake and Cultural District will undergo extensive
terra-forming in 2010 and 2011. It will include the site preparation
for a 20-acre lake, cultural terrace, botanical terrace and large
performance area. The wildlife corridor will undergo construction at
the same time, depending on further agreements with Lennar/Heritage
Fields."
-- "Beginning with the July 11th anniversary celebration,
'Growing the Park' - and throughout the year - tens of
thousands of Great Park visitors will see on-the-ground additions and
signs of more things to come in the Preview Park. They will enjoy
five
large, 40-year-old shade-generating elm trees recently transplanted to
the Preview Park's lawn area from the El Toro military property.
This tree rescue program will transplant 600 trees. It is part of the
most ambitious tree-rescue program under way in the United States "
-- "Further renovation of Historic Hangar 244. U.S. Senator Barbara
Boxer, who recognized the historical significance of the Hangar,
secured
$470,000 in federal funds to accelerate the Hangar's restoration
while preserving the military history of El Toro as part of the Great
Park."
-- "Completing a feasibility study to move forward with the proposed
Aviation and Heritage Museum and pushing ahead with step-by-step
military acquisitions. Recently, the Great Park acquired two aircraft
emblematic of the World War II era aviation training mission that
characterized the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro."
-- "Planting the gift of 5,000 Valencia orange trees donated by Joan
Havajian and the Great Park Conservancy. This will be the largest
planting of orange trees in Orange County in the past 30 years."
-- "We are urging President Obama to consider the Great Park for
economic stimulus funds. We have ample resources for the 500-acre
development plan, but federal funds would enable us to accelerate our
construction schedule and put more people to work."
-- "There is a strong precedent for federal investment in parks and
recreation areas in order to stimulate economic recovery. During the
1930s, thousands of Americans were put to work building and improving
California's great metropolitan parks - San Francisco's Golden
Gate Park, Los Angeles' Griffith Park, and Balboa Park in San
Diego."
-- "I've asked Great Park CEO Mike Ellzey to establish a workers
registry to record the name and work history of each and every
individual making a significant contribution to the design,
construction
and initial operation of our Great Park."
Chair Agran concluded his remarks by saying, "...our job is to remain
resolute...to be strong stewards in continuing to move the Great Park forward,
forward, forward, even in these very difficult times. Together, we can and we
will restore and reshape the landscape of our region, and we will transfigure
the history of Orange County for ourselves and for the lasting benefit of
generations to come."
For more information, go to www.ocgp.org.
SOURCE Orange County Great Park
Craig Reem, +1-949-724-6077, for Orange County Great Park
