Great Park Gives Green Light to Expediting Wildlife Corridor and Agua Chinon Phasing

IRVINE, Calif., June 14 /PRNewswire/ — The Orange County Great Park Corporation took action today that will create the largest interconnected open space system in the country. The Board approved a $13,460,854 increase in this year’s budget to move forward the design and construction of the Wildlife Corridor.

The Wildlife Corridor is a three-mile long corridor along the eastern border of the Great Park and is the “missing link” between the Cleveland National Forest to the north and Crystal Cove State Park to the south. It will allow wildlife to migrate through the Park and will play an important role in preserving a healthy regional ecosystem.

The Agua Chinon is a buried creek that will be brought back to the surface. The Agua Chinon will act as a buffer between the Great Park and surrounding communities and will include paths and trails that will allow park visitors to enjoy this natural area and learn about the “daylighting” and restoration of a former creek system.

“As Orange County becomes more developed it is increasingly important that we provide an open space link between the Cleveland National Forest and the Crystal Cove State Park,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “The Wildlife Corridor will help to protect our ecosystem and will encourage biodiversity by giving animals a safe path for migration that is unobstructed by freeways and housing developments.”

Both the Wildlife Corridor and the Aqua Chinon include backbone infrastructure components which are Lennar’s responsibility to construct in accordance with the Development Agreement. These facilities will be financed as part of the Community Facilities District (CFD) that is being formed by the City for the Great Park communities.

This expedited action will allow Lennar to take the lead on construction for the enhanced features and may result in some cost savings due to economies of scale through the concurrent development of both Lennar’s CFD obligations and the Design Studio’s enhanced features for the Wildlife Corridor.

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, go to http://www.ocgp.org/.

Orange County Great Park Corporation

CONTACT: Maryann Maloney of Orange County Great Park Corporation,+1-949-375-0856

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