Councilman Carroll Leads Effort to Transform Irvine’s Great Park Into America’s Next Big Municipal Park

“We’re not just building a park—we’re building a legacy,” stated Irvine City Councilmember and Great Park Chairman Mike Carroll.

In early May, over 2,000 residents of Orange County gathered at Great Park in Irvine to attend the “State of the Great Park,” which introduced a new mode of aerial transport and other fascinating additions to the expansive outdoor space. Irvine City Councilmember and Great Park Chairman Mike Carroll excitedly addressed attendees and gave more insight into the many ways the finished park will benefit the local community. 

“Irvine is a community with bold vision, careful master planning, and a deep commitment to what matters most—our people, our quality of life, and our future,” Carroll said. “This is the most ambitious park development project in the United States, and once complete, it will be larger than Central Park in New York, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and Balboa Park in San Diego at 1,347 acres. We’re not just building a park—we’re building a legacy.”  

Irvine residents and those with an interest Orange County’s past may already be familiar with the Great Park’s storied history. For over five decades, the site was the home of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, a military base that was closed in 1999. It sat dormant and underutilized for several years, until voters first approved the idea of building a nature preserve on the land in 2002. Fast forward to today and the Great Park is home to a concert venue, multiple walking trails, playgrounds, and soccer fields—the latter of which includes the Championship Soccer Stadium, a potential host site for a future FIFA World Cup tournament. 

And yet, as mentioned by Councilman Carroll, it’s not finished. The site will eventually stretch 1,347 acres—only 500 which is currently developed—and include a host of new cultural attractions, such as the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, lakes, waterfalls, and a shorefront restaurant for boaters to paddle up to, and “expansive space dedicated to unprogrammed passive enjoyment.”

Other proposed additions include an amphitheater made to fit 10,000 people—more than double the capacity of the existing The Great Park Live, which itself was meant to be a temporary inclusion. Councilman Carroll remains hopeful: “hopefully, we’ll be able to have many of our citywide events and graduations here.” 

There are even plans to add an arboretum and botanical garden and a large central library. The city hopes to open each of these new attributes to the park by the time the Los Angeles Olympics take place in the summer of 2028. 

The Park is not without its detractors, however. Historically, criticism tends to center around how long it has taken to progress through the first few phases of development. This includes—among other complications—financing issues that delayed the park’s development in the early 2010’s and, later, the shutdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Each and every major metropolitan park in America took decades to come to life,” stated Councilman Carroll. “I’m excited that it’s officially go-time for the Great Park.”

Increasingly, the detractors find themselves in a shrinking minority. A litany of Irvine residents expressed their excitement for the expansion at the recent event. “I think it’s incredible,” said Wayne Madrigal, a 10-year Orange County resident, after reviewing mockups of park plans. “The amphitheater, the lakes—it’s exactly what we need.” 

Much of the discussion and hype centered around plans for a new aerial technology, “Whoosh,” effectively a battery-powered aerial transit system which will closely resemble a tram or gondola. It would transport passengers from The Canopy, a planned retail center, across the park at a speed of up to 30 miles-per-hour, offering aerial views of the City.

Even Irvine Mayor Larry Agran—who often finds himself at odds with Carroll politically—has praised the work done by the Chairman Mike Carroll and the rest of the Board: “The Great Park is a living reflection of Irvine’s past and a bold investment in its future,” said Agran. “What began with a decisive vote of the people through Measure W has grown into a vibrant destination shaped by purpose, pride, and possibility. With every new addition, we’re honoring our history, engaging our community, and building something truly extraordinary.”