Park Plan Gives Wildlife a Way

Backers of a plan to create a regional park on central Orange County’s coast that would double as a wildlife corridor will move closer to their goal when a conceptual plan is presented to the public next week.

Proponents of the Orange Coast River Park, which would connect open space along the Santa Ana River from Newport Beach’s shoreline to Costa Mesa’s bluffs, say the new park would showcase several distinct yet interlocking habitats, from wetlands to woodlands.

The 971-acre park would link Fairview Regional Park in Costa Mesa, Talbert Nature Preserve in unincorporated Orange County, public and private wetlands in Huntington Beach and private land at Banning Ranch in Newport Beach.

Supporters say the plan would serve humans and wildlife by preserving a block of open space and a range of habitats.

“It will all flow together. Everything will be consistent,” said Jean Watt, president of Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks and a former Newport Beach city councilwoman. “It makes a nicer, continuous park with some meaning to it.”

The area “is surrounded by densely developed areas that don’t have that much open space other than the beach,” said Bob Fisher, executive director of the nonprofit organization behind the effort. The group received planning funds from the three cities, the county and the California Coastal Conservancy.

A single large park also would have easier access to state and federal grants, Watt said.

The proposal is only one of several attempts in Orange County to preserve wildlife corridors that officials and activists say are crucial to maintaining diverse, healthy ecosystems.

“To go from one habitat to another and to be able to see that change in terrain and that change in habitat itself is just a wonderful experience for kids and for those who enjoy the outdoors and also for those animals and creatures that travel within the region,” said county Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson. Such links mean the animals “don’t have to cross the highway. They don’t have to cross through backyards. It’s wonderful to give them that open space.”

Supervisors Agree to Preserve Land

Elsewhere, county supervisors agreed last week to spend $1 million to help preserve a portion of Coal Canyon that links Chino Hills State Park and the Cleveland National Forest. At least one county supervisor has supported buying Barham Ranch in Orange to enable animals to travel from the canyon to Irvine Regional Park without being blocked by development. In Trabuco Canyon, a recent legal ruling delayed the creation of the Saddleback Meadows development, which state and federal wildlife officials have said would strangle a critically important corridor between Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and O’Neill Regional Park.

The conceptual plan for Orange Coast River Park will be presented to the public at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Costa Mesa Community Center. Public comment will be used to create a master plan that will then go to the cities and the county for approval.

Each entity would retain control over land in its jurisdiction; however, planners envision cooperation, such as linking trails, coordinating education programs and possibly sharing other operations, Fisher said.

Park planners are also still talking to developer Taylor Woodrow Homes regarding open space at Banning Ranch. Mike Schlesinger, director of community development for the Laguna Hills-based developer, said the current 1,750-home proposal includes more than 100 acres of lowlands that he hopes will be included in the park.

Development of the park, if approved, could take 10 years and $10 million to $20 million. The funding--for improvements, restoration and possible land acquisition--would come from federal and state grants, including competitive awards in the parks and water bond initiatives that California voters approved last week.

There are a few concerns, such as the possible relocation of a well known BMX bike field called Sheep Hills in the Talbert Nature Preserve, Watt added. But the project has strong support from city and county leaders.

Allan L. Roeder, Costa Mesa’s city manager, said the park is good for central Orange County.

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Orange Coast River Park

Planners of the Orange Coast River Park will unveil their conceptual plan for the 971-acre, multi-habitat regional park next week at a public meeting in Costa Mesa.

Fast Facts

* Cities and the county would continue to manage the properties

* Most of the land would be restored to nature preserves and passive parkland

* Conventional urban parks also are planned