WHAT: | "Growing the Park" -- the Great Park's annual summer anniversary celebration -- is a wide-ranging festival, spanning more than 30 acres. Activities include aerial acts every hour, arts and culture exhibits, sports activities, military vehicle displays, a petting zoo, cooking demonstrations and more, ending with a fireworks spectacular. Two new areas of the Park will be open to the public for the first time at this event: The North Lawn will host a variety of sports clinics, camps and special events. It is also an ideal spot for picnics and recreation. Celebrating the grand opening of North Lawn will be LA Galaxy soccer legend Mauricio Cienfuegos and Olympic soccer players Paul Caligiuri and Thomas Dooley who will meet fans and sign autographs. The LA Galaxy Street Team, along with UCI & Coast Soccer League will host soccer clinics to help kids strengthen their soccer skills. The Palm Court Arts Complex consists of two former aviation squadron buildings that have been transformed into a 3,900-square foot gallery and 6,400-square foot artists studio building, connected by an expansive outdoor plaza planted with 54 Canary Island Date Palm trees. Local musical and dance performers The Alley Cats, Festival Ballet, Ten West, Clair de Lune and the Butler Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dances will be showcased throughout the day to highlight the opening of the Palm Court Arts Complex. Planes will fly, sky-divers will jump, and the famous F6F Hellcat will take to the sky together with the Japanese Zero to mark the Great Park's rich military history. The event will have five distinct areas for visitors to enjoy: "The Back Forty" - Highlights agriculture history. Includes petting zoo, hands-on agricultural craft activities and cooking demonstrations. "Great Park Gallery" - Showcases arts and culture. Includes art displays and exhibits, demonstrations, local performers, hands-on activities, and community booths. "The Runway" - Presents military history. Includes vintage aircraft and military vehicle displays, aerial entertainment, 2/11 Marine Battalion Adoption Committee, the Foundation for the Museum of Heritage and Aviation, community partner booths and food service. "The Outfield" - Features sports, health and wellness. Includes sports and fitness play area, demonstrations, and community booths. "Sky's the Limit" - Represents the future of the Great Park. Includes Kids Rock playground, open play area, and viewing area for aerial entertainment. | |
WHO: | Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation Sukhee Kang, Mayor, City of Irvine, and Director Orange County Great Park Corporation Mike Ellzey, CEO of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Interview opportunities | |
WHEN: | July 9, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | |
WHERE: | Orange County Great Park Off the 5 or 405 freeway at Sand Canyon and Marine Way in Irvine | |
WHY: | 2011 Great Park Anniversary Celebration is a community event that allows the community to see the development of the Great Park. The Palm Court Arts Complex and North Lawn, which debut at this event, are part of the nearly $70 million Western Sector Park Development Plan, which will increase the size of the Park to more than 200 acres. The plan will add exciting new features to the Park, including soccer fields, recreation space, park-wide improvements, walking and bike trails, community gardens and a farm. | |
CONTACT: JENN STARNES 949-724-6574 | ||
/PRNewswire - June 29, 2011/
SOURCE Orange County Great Park
