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Great Park Board Approves Park Programs and Enhancements for 2009

Posted on: Thursday, 18 December 2008, 17:03 CST

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Great Park Board of Directors approved several actions to expand the experiences visitors to the Great Park will enjoy in 2009. They approved the Great Park Community and Cultural 2009 Events Calendar, capital improvements to enhance the Preview Park, a recommendation to execute a feasibility study for the water science park and moved forward with several leasing and revenue generating opportunities.

"Changes to the Great Park happen every day," said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Board. "Now that more people than ever are visiting the Great Park, we are enhancing the experiences and amenities to the Preview Park making it truly a wonderful destination."

A new winter series of community events beginning February 2009 will include snow play, ice carving demonstrations, arts activities, refreshments, Valentine's Day themed fun, all anchored by a temporary ice rink. The ice rink will be a temporary venue where skaters can ice skate under the stars at the Great Park. The winter series will build on the successful 2008 Great Park programs that included Night Flights dance and concert series, the El Toro Homecoming, Movie on the Lawn and the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest. These events drew more than 41,000 visitors in 2008. It is projected that attendance will rise to 77,000 visitors in 2009, a 64-percent increase.

"The Great Park Board is thrilled to build on last year's successes and now present 36 fantastic events making the Great Park truly a year round experience," said Chair Agran. "The variety of events will encourage visitors of all cultural, social and economic backgrounds to experience the Great Park."

The Board also approved several capital improvement projects to further enhance the Preview Park and its visitor experiences. The capital projects include additional lawn space and shade area around the Great Park Balloon. The plans also include a new restroom facility, children's playground, more parking and a train/shuttle access point near the Irvine Transportation Center to provide alternative eco-friendly access to Great Park events.

The Great Park Board also recommended the Irvine City Council authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute a feasibility study for a Water Science Park with Clearwater, LLC. A Water Science Park is one of sixteen top Park Priority Programs identified for further feasibility analysis. Clearwater, LLC is providing $320,000 in funding to conduct the feasibility analysis.

Two significant revenue generating activities were also approved. The Board extended the recreational vehicle lease contract with All Star Services for one year. The one year lease extension will generate approximately $1,797,115 in revenue for the Great Park. The Board also recommended the Irvine City Council authorize the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and enter into land lease agreements for temporary automobile storage. Estimated revenue would range from $270,000 to $360,000 a year.

The Orange County Great Park, which is almost twice the size of New York City's Central Park, will be a major metropolitan park and the focal point of the redevelopment of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro. The Great Park officially opened July 14, 2007 with the launch of the iconic Orange County Great Park Balloon. Visitors can also now enjoy the 27.5 acre Preview Park and Balloon night flights.

In the future, the Orange County Great Park will provide a wide array of active and passive uses, including a 2.5 mile canyon and lake, miles of walking and biking trails, a cultural terrace, Orange County's largest sports park and a botanical garden.

For more information, please go to http://www.ocgp.org.

SOURCE Orange County Great Park

Source: PR Newswire

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