Park Plans Centennial Celebrations
County officials are gearing up for a year of celebrations marking the 100th birthday of Irvine Regional Park.
The 477-acre park off Santiago Canyon Road was donated to Orange County in 1897 by James Irvine Jr. and was once part of the Irvine family’s vast ranch. It was opened to the public in 1898, becoming the county’s first regional park.
Centennial celebrations are planned throughout the year, culminating with a weekend of events scheduled for Oct. 4 and 5, when a replica of the park’s historic entry arch will be unveiled in the park.
Other events under consideration include a Civil War reenactment, a vintage automobile parade, historical tours and the placement of a time capsule.
The county Harbors, Beaches and Parks Department also plans to sell commemorative T-shirts, pins and coffee mugs.
The park, home to the Orange County Zoo, includes several historic buildings, Art Deco-style picnic tables and barbecue pits built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s and antique street lamps.
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