For more than 160 years, people have visited what is now Irvine Regional Park. In the 1850s, locals referred to an old oak grove on the historic Irvine Ranch as “the Picnic Grounds.” It became so popular that in 1897 the Irvine Company donated the grove and 160 acres to create Orange County’s first park, “Orange County Park.” The county eventually renamed it “Irvine Regional Park” in honor of its roots in the old Irvine Ranch.
How an old oak grove became OC’s most enduring park
Subscribe to get the latest stories and community news from Irvine Standard delivered straight to your inbox.
"*" indicates required fields
More from Irvine Standard
-
Hike leader finds love in all forms on the trails
Annette Heiertz is an Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer who is in love with the land – and the husband she …
-
Bommer Canyon Cattle Camp offers family fun
About 200 people enjoyed rollicking fun and bluegrass music from the Jordan Hook Band under the dappled shade of sycamore …
-
3 outdoor adventures
Delight in the season with a stroll along any of the trails departing from Bommer Canyon, especially during open access …
-
Loop trail reveals hidden wonders to the curious hiker
After my recent hike twice around the nearly 2-mile Quail Hill Loop, I’ve come to believe in fairies. Fairy shrimp, …