Orange County Great Park is one of the newest, most extensive, and appealing park developments the county has seen in decades. With features and amenities to accommodate a variety of interests, the Great Park has something for every one, from play areas for toddlers to championship soccer fields, to the Farm + Food Lab where gardeners can work on their green thumb.
The Orange County Great Park is built on the land of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The park includes a 194-acre sports complex, a 280,000 square-foot ice facility, a FivePoint pop-up village with repurposed cargo containers for small-scale dining, miles of walking and biking trails, an agriculture area, and much more.
The Great Park is surrounded by residential communities that include new schools, additional community parks, pools, and specialized communal spaces like green houses, galleries, and outdoor amphitheaters. Art classes, gardening workshops, and performances are just a few of the events that take place regularly at the Orange County Great Park. Take a look at all the Great Park has to offer.
Website: https://www.cityofirvine.org/orange-county-great-park
Address: 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: 949-724-6247
Email: [email protected]
Great Park Interactive Map
Great Park Trail Map
Great Park Parking Map
General Park Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Parking: Free except (except Wild Rivers & premier parking)
Dogs: Permitted in many areas if on a leash
Great Park Electric Vehicle Charging
Great Park has paid ChargePoint EV charging stations in front of the Great Park Ice arena. There are 10 Level 2 plugs + 2 more in the handicap lot. Some maps may show two free charging stations in addition to these but they are not accessible to the public.
Charging Station Address: 888 Ridge Valley, Irvine, CA 92618 (located on the Phantom St side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any outdoor gym fitness equipment?
There is no outdoor fitness equipment.
Are drones allowed?
Drones are not allowed.
Are there grills to BBQ?
There are no grills at Great Park.
Are easy ups allowed for shade?
Yes, easy ups are allowed.
Is there RV parking?
Yes, but it is not allowed overnight.
Are tennis courts open at night?
Yes, drop-in courts are available daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call the Tennis Center at 949-724-6400 or email [email protected](link sends e-mail)
Do the tennis courts have lights?
Yes.
Are the basketball courts available for pick up basketball?
Yes, they are available daily for drop-in use. Call 949-724-6584 or email [email protected](link sends e-mail). The lights are on at night.
Are the sand volleyball courts available for use?
Yes, if available they can be used daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Volleyballs are available for check out at the Great Park Visitors Center. Call 949-724-6584 or email [email protected](link sends e-mail) for more information.
Are the baseball fields natural grass or artificial turf?
Grass with dirt infields.
Orange County Great Park Features
Farm + Food Lab
The Farm + Food Lab is a two-acre demonstration garden that offers hands on gardening and educational programming for visiting gardeners of all ages. Themed, raised bed planters offer a look at the Spaghetti Garden, the Pizza Garden, and the Fruit Salad Garden, giving a view of how fruits, flowers, vegetables, and herbs are grown and combined to become delicious final products. Visitors will learn about sustainable gardening concepts including vertical gardening, composting, and solar and wind-powered lighting.
Farmers Market and Picnic Area
The farmers market and picnic area is designated for the farmers market held at the Great Park every Sunday.
Five Point Amphiteatre
*Five Point Amphitheatre closed permanently on October 22, 2023. The last concert was Zac Brown Band on Saturday, October 21, 2023.
FivePoint Amphitheatre is a 12,000 seat outdoor live music venue for headlining musical performers. Five Point is operated by LiveNation and is located within the Orange County Great Park on Chinon Drive. Visit our FivePoint page for more information and upcoming events. Find parking information and directions to FivePoint.
Giving Grove
The Giving Grove, located on the end of the park near the Festival Site consists of fruit trees. The harvest from the trees in the Giving Grove are donated to local food banks.
Great Park Balloon
Step aboard the Great Park Balloon and climb 400 feet into the air. The tethered helium balloon is the first of its kind in the United States, and offers 360-degree views up to 40 miles away. The balloon was the first attraction to open at the Great Park and serves as an observation platform for the development of the park, in addition to being a fun attraction for visitors. The visitor’s center is located next to the Great Park Balloon and features a lobby, office space, and restrooms.
Great Park Carousel
Take a spin on the Great Park Carousel. The 38-foot carousel was originally located at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. The hand-painted carousel includes colorful panels that pay homage to the heritage of Orange County.
Great Park Ice
The 280,000 square foot ice and sports facility is open to high-performance skaters, hockey leagues, youth and adult learn-to-skate programs, public skaters, and more. The Anaheim Ducks use Great Park Ice as their newest training facility. There is a full service restaurant and bar on site, as well as a café and gym.
Great Park Trails
The Bosque landscape links residents and visitors to the surrounding area.
Great Park Trail Features
- Class 1 Bike Trails and Pedestrian Trails
- Pedestrian/Bike Trail Underpasses (3)
- Respite Areas with Seating
- Drinking Fountains (6)
- Parking Lots
- Restroom Buildings (2)
- Picnic Tables (12)
- Barbecues (7)
- Children’s Play Area
- Overhead Shade
- Lighting
Historic Hangar 244
This former squadron complex hangar has been restored and features exhibits dedicated to aviation and military history from the site’s days as Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. You’ll see World War II airplanes, the Airforce C-135A Stratolifter Memorial in honor of the US Airmen and Marines who died in the 1965 Loma Ridge crash, historic images and artifacts, and more.
Kids Rock Playground
The Kids Rock playground is located near the Great Park Visitors Center. The environmentally friendly play area is ideal for toddler and elementary aged kids. Seating areas are made from recycled runway concrete from the former airstrip, illustrated lakes and streams are made from recycled rubber flooring. There are rocks to climb, tunnels to explore, and cloud-like shade structures that provide a cooling mist on warm days. Additional children’s play areas are located in multiple locations around the park.
North Lawn
The North Lawn is a seven acre recreational space for group and family sports activities. The Great Park offers continuously scheduled sports clinics and family sports programs that take place on the North Lawn.
Palm Court Arts Complex
The Palm Court Arts Complex is a gathering space for the community with many great features. There is a shaded outdoor performance plaza, the Great Park Gallery, and Great Park Artist Studios. Historic Hangar 244 is a former squadron complex that has been restored to become a 10,000 square foot event center. Visitors will enjoy events like Yoga and Movies on the Lawn in the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex.
Reflecting Ponds & Viewing Pier
Near the Marine Way entrance, visitors are welcomed by two reflecting ponds and a 2,200 square foot viewing pier made of redwood. From the reflecting ponds, follow the walkable timeline to connect to the balloon, Palm Court Art Complex and other features of the park.
South Lawn Sports + Fitness Complex
The 30 acre South Lawn Sports + Fitness Complex features four full size basketball courts, four tournament-quality soccer fields, new restrooms and the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Path. The Thrive Path is a one-mile long fitness path that features markers for measuring distance and interpretive signboards offering health and fitness information for users.
Sports Complex
In addition to the amenities on the South Lawn, the Sport’s Complex also features 25 tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, a new children’s play area, and a championship soccer stadium. Come to the visitors center to check out sports equipment like a football, Frisbee, Bocce ball set, and more.
Terraced Lawn
The Terraced Lawn sits between the North Lawn and Palm Court. It serves as an outdoor performance space for events at the Great Park.
Walkable Historical Timeline
The 2,604 foot long historical timeline lines the path that connects the Great Park Balloon and the Reflecting Ponds. The Timeline notes 162 significant events through history from 13,000 BC to 1990. The Great Park offers an online Walkable Historical Timeline Handbook for people interested in learning more about the events, some of which include the development of the Santa Ana Naval Air Station and the development of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, the Cold War, and the opening of Disneyland.
Wild Rivers Water Park
Wild Rivers Water Park opened in July 2022. The 26 acre park features waver pools, family raft rides, tube slides, body slides and much more.
Orange County Great Park Events
Children’s Garden Workshop
The Children’s Garden Workshop is a free event for children ages 3-9. It takes place once a month on Sunday’s during the Farmer’s Market. Registration is required for this event due to limited space and supplies. Garden workshop activities include planting summer vegetables, making a sunflower house, and making homemade seed pots.
Family Game Day
Come out to the Great Park for Family Game Day. One Saturday per month, the free event offers fun family lawn games, board games, and other activities on the Balloon Lawn.
Farmer’s Market
The Farmer’s Market is held every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and offers free admission and parking. Visitors to the farmer’s market will enjoy fresh produce from the farms at the Great Park, fresh fruits and vegetables from local vendors, hand made artisan products, live music, food trucks, entertainment, and more. Other special events that sometimes take place at the farmer’s market include car shows, gardening workshops, and health and wellness services.
Garden Workshop
The garden work shop for ages 12 and up happens twice a month during the summer and offers useful gardening tips like what herbs you can use from your garden that are great for barbecuing and safe solutions for garden pest control. This is a free event on select Saturday mornings at the Farm + Food Lab.
Movies On The Lawn
Summer is a great time for movies on the lawn. Food trucks arrive at 6:30 p.m. to provide food and beverages for moviegoers to purchase. The movies begin at dusk. Movies On The Lawn take place on select Fridays and Saturdays.
Park Explorations
One Saturday per month the park explorations mobile cart comes out to different locations within the park offering opportunities to learn with hands on activities and crafts, all free of charge.
Storytime In The Gardens
Once a month, kids ages 3 – 8 are invited to meet in the Farm + Food Lab for storytime. The event is free.
Yoga In The Elements
Sign up for this weekly yoga class and enjoy the morning with friends from the community in the grass area near the Palm Court Arts Complex.
Here is the full Great Park Event Calendar.
Coming Soon to the Orange County Great Park
The Great Park has room to grow and they are adding more every day. Yet to come:
- Veterans Cemetery
- Pretend City Children’s Museum
- FivePoint Pop-Up Village
- Western White Water adventure sports facility (proposed)
- California Fire Museum and Safety Learning Center (proposed)
- Botanical Gardens
- Balloon Lawn Playground
- New Sports Facilities
- Public Safety Joint Training Facility
- Hangar 244 Renovation
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- Shade Structures
- A permanent amphitheater (proposed)
- American Museum of Natural History (proposed)
- Additional trails and open space
- Wildlife corridor and an agricultural area
Visit the Orange County Great Park online for more information about features and events.
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