Last month, the Irvine Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend a zoning amendment that will create an option for a new 50-plus‑acre public nature park in the center of the city. The amendment, which involves an alternative open space framework for the current Oak Creek Golf Club property, will now head to Irvine City Council for review and approval
Following months of collaborative public design sessions, project planners presented the vision for the public nature park that would transform much of the privately owned Oak Creek Golf Club.
The project is poised to become the largest nature park of its kind in the city, offering a tranquil oasis in the heart of Irvine. The most consistent request from residents who attended the sessions or offered opinions online was tranquility.
New trails
The new park will serve as the highly anticipated capstone of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail. By introducing more than 5 miles of new interior trails and two pedestrian bridges – spanning the rail tracks and Irvine Center Drive – the park will close the final gap in the regional network.
“It enables a linkage between Gateway Preserve to the north and Quail Hill and Laguna Wilderness open space in the south,” says naturalist and interpretive planner Jenny Rigby. “You can hike from Gateway across the valley, across the city’s new pedestrian bridge at Interstate 5 and two new bridges that are part of the nature park plan, and end at the shore in Laguna Beach or Newport Beach.”
Landscape architect Sean O’Malley – who presented detailed, hand-drawn illustrations of the park – described the site as “the heart and soul of the Jeffrey Open Space Trail system,” located in the city’s center, which is lacking in natural parks and spaces compared to the rest of Irvine.
The project’s target size – at least 50 acres – is larger than much-loved community parks such as Bill Barber, Heritage and Harvard. This expansive footprint affords designers the space to create distinct, immersive ecological zones and upward of 5 miles of new trails.
Design details
The concept design itself was heavily influenced by direct resident feedback. Rather than a standing body of water like a lake or pond that was initially considered, the community strongly prefers a meandering creek, providing the tranquil sounds of a flowing stream. The creek will be lined with California sycamores, white alders and Fremont cottonwoods to mimic the natural watersheds of Irvine Ranch Open Space.
The trails within the new park will lead to what designers envision as California’s largest planned seasonal meadow – a vast, rolling expanse designed to shift in color and texture, complete with boardwalks for bird-watching and wildlife viewing. Elsewhere, botanic and pollinator gardens will teem with native flora, such as native milkweed, to support local monarch butterfly populations. Another community priority – separate trails for hikers and bikers – would provide safe and beautiful places for active exercise or peaceful family strolls.
Community benefits
The creation of the park is intrinsically tied to a village residential plan that includes a public school, a range of homes, plus traffic improvements that include the extension of Oak Canyon roadway to connect with Walnut Avenue/Progress near Interstate 5. As the size of the nature park grew based on community input, the village plan will be significantly scaled down.
More than 125 community members, local business owners, students and civic leaders attended the Planning Commission hearing or wrote in to share their vision for the nature park. Many had taken part in the planning sessions and spoke about how the transition from a fee-based, privately owned golf course to a free, public park represents a profound community benefit.
Resident Andrew Boehm was one of the supporters who addressed commissioners at the hearing. “You have before you a once-in-a-century opportunity to build something truly beautiful that every community in North America will want to emulate,” he said.
While the Planning Commission’s unanimous approval was an important step in the planning process, final review and approval of the overall plan is not expected until 2027. Residents are encouraged to continue sharing their thoughts on the design as the process advances. Visit irvinenaturepark.com for more information.
