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“Growing the Park” Event has Free Fun for All Ages

In the Air and on the Ground, the Orange County Great Park is Celebrating its 5th Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2010

CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

WHAT: Fearless aerobatic war planes, roaring F-18 flyovers, intrepid wing walkers, and a dazzling laser light show finale are all part of “Growing the Park,” marking the fifth anniversary of the Orange County Great Park.

“Growing the Park” is a free afternoon and evening wide-ranging family fun festival that covers 27 acres of the Park. It will take visitors on a journey through the Great Park’s transformation from its military and agricultural heritage to a community oasis showcasing the energetic development of the Orange County Great Park.

  • The LA Galaxy Soccer Street Team will bring an ultimate soccer experience, along with soccer tricks and performances by the Futboleros
  • Discovery Science Center will present hands-on children’s science activities.
  • The Irvine 2/11 Battalion will display artillery equipment & Marine Corps Gear for kids to try on.
  • The Orange County Performing Arts Center Italian Street Painters will draw on asphalt, OC Philharmonic Society will highlight its Music Mobile and the Bowers Kidseum, OC Museum of Art and Chuck Jones Center for Creativity will feature hands- on art activities.
  • Whole Foods Market will conduct a food demonstration using ingredients from the Great Park Farm and Food Lab.
  • Captain Fitness will award certificates to all kids who take on a fitness challenge.
  • Families will also enjoy pony rides, food, kite flying, live bands and entertainment, and balloon rides in the iconic Orange County Great Park Balloon.
  • Children can play in the new Kids Rock play area.
  • Visitors can “Celebrate 5” by bringing five cans of food to help support Second Harvest Food Bank and the Community Action Partnership of Orange County.

WHO: Sukhee Kang, Mayor of the City of Irvine, and Director, Orange County Great Park Corporation

Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation

Mike Ellzey, CEO of the Orange County Great Park Corporation

Interview opportunities

WHEN: July 10, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Laser light show begins at 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Orange County Great Park, off the 5 freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine or Jeffrey Blvd. as alternate event entrance.

WHY: “Growing the Park, Celebrate 5” is an opportunity for the public to see the development of the Great Park. A $65.5 million development plan to increase the size of the Park by 200 acres is currently underway. The plan will add exciting new features to the Park, including lighted soccer fields, picnic meadows, an art and culture exhibition space, a 100-acre community farm, community gardens and a farmers market.

B-ROLL B-Roll and photo stock of last year’s event available.

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

2 thoughts on “O.C. Great Park celebrates 5th Anniversary with free event on July 10”
  1. The only ones I can see celebrating the “Not So Great Park” are Agranista patrons like Forde & Moolrich, the Design Studio and a host of other recipients of the Larry Agran gravy train. To date the Agranistas (Agran, Krom & Kang) have dished up almost 200 million dollars in gravy,minus the potatoes. What are the potatoes, a reasonable peson might ask? They are the soccer fields, baseball diamonds, green grass with trees and picnic areas that one would expect to see in a Great Park. Not Irvine though, where the Agranistas have thrilled us with the tacky Orange Balloon, and antique merry-go-round, an ancient WWII airplane and no restrooms or running water.

    As for this taxpayer, I will hold my celebration until someone in the U.S. Attorney’s Office finally comes out of their coma, does an investigation of both the Great Park and City of Irvine and the Agranistas are taken away in handcuffs. Now that would be a real cause for celebration.

    1. Ltpar,

      We are in agreement. I post these releases here so that folks in town will take advantage of these events, which we as taxpayers underwrite. Imagine the horror in Irvine when a bunch of brown folks from SanTana show up at their Agranista functions!

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