On Saturday, November 16, Irvine welcomed the newest addition to the Orange County Great Park: an expanded state-of-the-art playground for children of all ages. 

Located adjacent to the Great Park Visitors Center, this new playground features a “super slide,” climbing structures, a sand pit and more. The favorite of the day was the zip line, where lines of children waited excitedly for a chance to try it out. 

The expanded playground is one of the many new amenities being added to Great Park, where the city of Irvine and local developer FivePoint have partnered in a promise to revitalize the space for the community. 

The playground’s grand opening saw councilmember and Great Park Board Chair Farrah N. Khan alongside FivePoint COO Lynn Jochim and Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Kuo leading a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Farrah N. Khan, Irvine city councilmember

Mayor Pro Tem Kuo had a chance to try the park out for himself, saying, “Irvine’s 97th playground is incredible! There are different features for kids of all ages. You can have your 10-year-old using the zip line, your younger kids enjoying the music-making features, while everyone is climbing on the wildly exciting play sets.”

The future is bright for the park, as more openings are anticipated and existing recreational activities are revitalized. 

“In addition to sports fields, our Great Park helium balloon attraction, art galleries and more, this expanded playground gives families just one more option of recreation when visiting the Orange County Great Park,” added Mayor Pro Tem Kuo. 

Offering adventure, fun and entertainment for the families of Irvine and beyond, those interested in experiencing the new playground for themselves are advised to park in Parking Lot 3. The expanded playground is now open for public use, with entry during regular park hours. More information on the playground and Orange County Great Park can be found at ocgp.org.

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