Irvine's Great Park Project: Military Base to Become America's Largest City Park, A Haven for Greenery and Amenities
The city of Irvine in California is set to boast the largest city park in the United States, as construction begins on the Great Park Project. Spanning 1,300 acres, the project will be built on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Base, which has been derelict for many years. The park is expected to take at least another decade to complete, but will feature a range of amenities including museums, an amphitheater, a veterans memorial garden, an aquatics center, a sports complex, and two lakes. The project is being funded by $455 million in municipal bonds, with the total cost estimated at $1 billion. The park is being designed by Irvine professionals from SWA Group and Kellenberg Studios, and is expected to dwarf New York's Central Park by more than 500 acres. The first stage of the project involves demolishing and clearing away 77 old military buildings, while the El Toro air traffic control tower will be leased by the Federal Aviation Administration. A portion of the park is already open to visitors, featuring a soccer pitch and tethered balloon rides. Irvine City Councilman Michael Carroll, who serves as Chairman of the Great Park Board, said, "After many years of community input and after the last year of intensive planning and design, we are excited to be launching what is a $1 billion investment to establish the world’s next great metropolitan park." The park is expected to provide a much-needed green space for the rapidly-growing city of Irvine.
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