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Great Park Board Approves Preliminary Master Design Plan Moves to City for Review

Posted on: Thursday, 26 October 2006, 18:00 CDT

IRVINE, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park Corporation Board of Directors today unanimously approved the Great Park Preliminary Master Plan in concept as presented by Master Designer Ken Smith and the Great Park Design Studio -- the architects, artists, and engineers charged with designing the Park. The Great Park Design Studio unveiled the Preliminary Plan to the Great Park Board October 12, 2006. A public participation campaign to view and comment on the Plan was launched October 14 and will be conducted through November 2. The Design Team will now move the project forward and submit the Preliminary Master Plan to the City of Irvine for the regulatory review process.

"The entire Great Park Board is in awe of the draft Plan," said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. "It truly will be the next great park of the 21st Century. The Plan reflects the heritage, landscape, and features selected by the public. We will maintain our commitment to public involvement in every phase of the design of the Great Park."

The Design Studio describes the park Plan as one with multiple features and services. The Design Studio also highlighted that the public participation process has been an integral part of the design process and will continue to play an important role in shaping the design of the Park. The Plan includes:

* A new total Park and Parklands gross acreage of approximately 1165 acres with two-major and two secondary entrances. * Primary and active uses covering some 895 acres with the 100-acre Agua Chinon added for passive uses and the 170 acres Wildlife Corridor reserved for habitat only. * Key activity areas comprised of: - Air museum and timeline 45 acres - Sports Park 175 acres - Cultural Terrace and Lake and Amphitheatre 122 acres - Botanical Garden and Conservatory 50 acres - Great Lawn and Military Museum 165 acres - Trabuco Entry and Bosque 75 acres - Upper Canyon 180 acres - Orchard Parking and Maintenance 103 acres * Approximately 80 acres of agricultural heritage use is included in the active use areas. * Over 5,000 parking spaces located at various Park destinations and approximately 1,000 overflow spaces would be available within City facilities at the Irvine Station. * A bi-directional shuttle system and a full American with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant trail pathway network enabling immediate access to every key feature and area in the Park.

"The Great Park places the highest value on public participation," said Ken Smith. "This Plan reflects the public's choices in this extraordinary effort."

Approving the Preliminary Master Plan will initiate formal review by the City of Irvine. The City requires the same rigorous standards for its own projects as it does for the development community. Now with Board approval, the Corporation will submit the Plan for City approval. The City has identified eight issues that must be addressed in the Great Park Plan. They include:

1. Existing and planned development on adjoining and proximate parcels 2. Thematic architecture and landscaping 3. Location of proposed buildings 4. Arrangement of uses proposed on site 5. Access to the project site 6. On-site pedestrian and vehicle patterns, and transit routes 7. Distribution and amount of parking 8. Identification and mitigation of project impacts

The Preliminary Master Plan's approach to these issues will be analyzed by various City Departments. Applying their expertise to the Preliminary Master Plan will lead to adjustments and refinements that address design concerns and resolve development issues.

After City approval, the Corporation will move forward with design development and construction drawings. This will lead to the phased development of the Great Park. The City of Irvine has further established a policy that the Great Park will not impact the City's General Fund. The Great Park Corporation's budget includes funds to reimburse the City for the Master Plan review process.

The Orange County Great Park, which is almost twice the size as Central Park, will be a major metropolitan park and the focal point of redevelopment of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro. The Great Park will include extensive natural areas and open space in addition to recreational and cultural uses.

For more information about the Orange County Great Park, go to http://www.ocgp.org/.

Orange County Great Park Corporation

CONTACT: Maryann Maloney, +1-949-375-0856, for Orange County Great ParkCorporation

Web site: http://www.ocgp.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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