After the federal government in 1993 announced the decommissioning of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Orange County residents engaged in a contentious battle to determine its future. The Board of Supervisors proposed building an international airport on the site, but—and it all seems like ancient history—South County residents rebelled.
Voters approved the airport plan in 1994, but in 2002 they changed course and approved the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve, or Great Park. Proponents promised it would rival San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Park. These editorial pages dubbed it the Great Pork, noting it would become a financial sinkhole. It was basically the Anything But an Airport Plan.
In the ensuing 23 years the project has largely lived up to our low expectations. The park features—including that orange balloon ride—are fine, but mostly center on sports facilities one might find in any mid-brow regional park. Most of the old base has been developed in a traditional master-planned manner, which is for the best given the region’s need for housing.
The park’s progress has been blasted by three grand jury reports. In 2023, the city of Irvine approved $455 million in bonds to finance various projects, thus giving our Great Pork moniker continuing life. Last month, City Council OK’d a land swap with the Great Park developer that provides the city with 60 acres next to the Irvine train station, per news reports. The goal is to provide better transit access.
There’s nothing particularly wrong with this idea. But there isn’t much going on at the park and Orange County residents generally rely on their cars. Mayor Larry Agran, who was on the council during the park’s formative years, championed the idea of creating walkable communities where residents can get around without a car.
Don’t give up your car yet. It’s only more of the same: hopes and dreams and still nothing that resembles the early promises. This is what happens when the government rather than the private sector plays the lead role in developing anything.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Transit promises won’t revive a mediocre park )
Also on site :