Despite overcast skies, Irvine leaders presented a clear vision Tuesday, May 6, for turning the Great Park into what they hope becomes one of America’s preeminent municipal parks.
“As we look at what’s to come, today the Great Park is no longer an idea,” said Great Park Chairman and Councilmember Mike Carroll in his State of the Park address to a couple thousand Irvine residents. “It’s a commitment, and it’s a reality that’s right out there,” he said, pointing beyond the temporary amphitheater, at Great Park Live where the event was held, to where earthmovers are digging out the bowl for a permanent one that will replace it in 2028.
That 10,000-person-capacity amphitheater is one of numerous developments the city of Irvine has planned in the 4-square-mile park at the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. They will join a slew of sports fields and the visitor center with the park’s famed balloon that have already been built.
The city also is planning to add two lakes to the park, which are already being dug as well, several cultural museums, a botanical garden, a retail center, restaurants and other features that are expected to begin to open over the next few years. A library and more city services could come later.
“The plans look really good,” said longtime Irvine resident Kevin Konbru. “I just hope the city would finish them sooner.”
The idea of the Great Park took shape more than 20 years ago, when after the Marine base closed, Orange County voters chose to preserve much of the land as a park instead of converting it into a major international airport.
“This is what the people fought for and won for their own enjoyment when others tried to turn it into an airport,” Carroll said.
Wayne Madrigal moved to near the Great Park 10 years ago from Northern California, anticipating a day when a world-class park would be within walking distance from his property.
“I think it’s incredible,” he said after reviewing mockups of park plans. “The amphitheater, the lakes — it’s exactly what we need.”
The State of the Park event, other than featuring city speakers, also showcased several of the forthcoming museums and what might become the park’s most innovative feature — the “Whoosh.”
The Whoosh is an aerial public transit system that the city is considering to move people around the park.
Developed by tech startup Swyft Cities, it’s still a proof-of-concept and has not been deployed anywhere else in the world, but the company has another plan in the works in New Zealand.
Irvine is in the early stages of contract negotiations with Swyft Cities to deploy the new technology in the Great Park.
“I’m really happy that they’re arranging for public transit,” said Debora Miller-Osorio, a Northwood resident who said she’s most excited for the botanical garden.
A model of the autonomous aerial cabin, similar to a gondola but with its own motor, was available for residents to step into on Tuesday. They could also don a virtual reality headset to get a glimpse at the path the Whoosh would take on a fixed cable over the park.
“It’s interesting,” said Gordon Dickson, a nearby resident who came to the event with his 1-year-old daughter, Sadie. “I’m open to new forms of transportation, and I’ll be looking to see more from the company in terms of it developing actual systems.”
Dickson said mockups of the park as a whole look “super modern.”
Having moved from San Francisco, he was impressed with Carroll’s pitch to make the Great Park rival Golden Gate Park.
“It would be amazing to have something like that,” he said.
Becky Malkin, at Tuesday’s event with her soon-to-be-3-year-old Zachary, was also impressed with what she saw.
“We currently come to the park a lot for the playground and for people-watching,” she said.
“The shopping center will be a nice addition,” she added, “and so will the new Pretend City museum.”
Her father, Fred, a 22-year resident of Woodbridge, was more stoic in his reaction to the plans.
“At least it’s not an airport,” he said.
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