The park leaders are preparing for a more than $500,000 plan to replace the tethered helium balloon, which has begun to fade and show age.

The ride has been the center of the Great Park development for the past few years, as workers have constructed a 27.5-acre preview park around the balloon. With continued development underway, the park will be transformed when the balloon ridership breaks the 200,000 mark.

For more information on the Great Park and its flight schedule, go to ocgp.org