Plans to build one of America's greatest urban parks in the heart of Orange County hit another stumbling block today. Funding for the 1.4 billion dollar transformation of a former Marine base into a thirteen hundred acre leisure complex was pulled by the state's Department of Finance on Friday.
This morning, officials in Irvine learned that a temporary restraining order preventing the state from removing the funds was denied. What was dubbed the 'Great Park' complete with a lake, canyons, athletic fields and an extensive network of pathways, would be flanked by a ring of almost five thousand homes. Property taxes were expected to be used to fund the project developed by Fivepoint Communities Inc.
Should the state's financial needs come before creating areas of relaxation for urban areas? Southern California has a number of great urban parks, including Griffith Park in Los Angeles and Balboa Park in San Diego. Why do we need another one? If you live in Orange County, would you have used the Great Park for leisure? What suggestions do you have for a scaled down park?
GUESTS
Jeff Gottlieb, Senior Writer for the Los Angeles Times
Beth Krom, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Irvine and Chair of the Orange County Great Park Board
HD Palmer, deputy director of external affairs, California Department of Finance