Palm Court Arts Complex Opening

LASN has covered developments out at the Orange County Great Park since 2005, when the team of Ken Smith Landscape Architecture of New York, Ten-Arquitectos of Mexico City, Mary Miss Studio of New York and Mia Lehrer and Associates of Los Angeles won the master planning design competition over six other firm finalists (originally 24 firms competing).

The O.C. Great Park master plan comprises 1,347 acres of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, Calif.

Only 27.5 acres have thus far been developed, however, a $65 million Western Sector Park Development Plan is underway to build out a core section of the park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit, which would expand the park to more than 200 acres.

Toward the end of May, the last of the 54 full-size Canary Island date palms were seated at the Palm Court Arts Complex. The Arts Complex, located close to the popular Carousel and tethered Great Park Balloon, encompasses two rehabilitated and repurposed former Marine station military buildings (circa 1943) near Hangar 244 that will now be devoted to art production by local artists and historical exhibitions. One building houses 3,900-sq. ft. of gallery space; the other building has 6,400-sq. ft. for studio space for a number of artists.

The Palm Court Arts Complex officially opens to the public at the ''Growing the Park'' Event on July 9, 2011, which celebrates the park's sixth anniversary.

The new North fescue lawn is bordered by California coastal live oaks. The adjacent parking lot has segmented curbs to direct stormwater runoff into bioswales, which are planted with cottonwoods, alders and sycamores. ''The plantings and landscape are state-of-the-art sustainability,'' said Ken Smith.

''These magnificent palm trees define the outdoor plaza connecting the new art gallery and artists' studios,'' said Beth Krom, chair of the Orange County Great Park Corp. ''This summer, we'll enjoy outdoor music and dance performances under the canopy of these magnificent trees.''

LASN editor Stephen Kelly spoke with Ken Smith, ASLA, for his comments. Ken Smith has been flying from New York City to Southern California (Ken Smith Workshop West) every two weeks over the last six years to monitor the park's progress.

There have been added features to the park every year, Ken Smith told LASN, with soccer fields coming to the park next year.

''The Palm Court and parking lot are substantial, well designed and nicely executed. People will be impressed with the scale and sophistication of the two new projects. The plantings are beautiful. There's a fescue lawn and plantings of California coastal live oaks. The parking has segmented curbs to direct stormwater runoff into bioswales, which are planted with cottonwoods, alders and sycamores. The plantings and landscape are state-of-the-art sustainability.''

On May 19, 2011, the Orange County Great Park Board approved a $64,752,169 budget for fiscal year 2011-12. Nearly $18 million of that will cover administrative costs, with $46 million for capital improvements projects and development. Park revenues of $9.2 million are expected, up $2.4 million from last year's $6.8 million. Additional monies will come from the city's special Great Park accounts, funded by fees from Lennar Corp. for its planned housing developments in the areas surrounding the parkland.

The multi-year housing market slump has hard hit the tax revenues going to the Great Park from Lennar. Gov. Jerry Brown, in an effort to reduce the state's indebtedness, says he wants the tax dollars derived from community redevelopment agency projects going to the state. The Great Park had anticipating as much as $1.4 billion in redevelopment monies to build the park's many amenities.

For more info on the Great Park, visit www.ocgp.org