Allison Plette-Dalton grew up in Irvine, where some of her most important memories – including birthday parties, learning to ride her bike and after-school playdates – all took place in parks.
Today, she lives with her husband, Blake, and their toddler daughter, about a six-minute walk from Turtle Rock Canyon Park, where she appreciates Irvine’s abundant green public places more than ever.
“Having clean, safe, beautiful outdoor spaces within walking distance changes the rhythm of everyday life with a young child,” Plette-Dalton says. Her remote job as a lawyer means she can venture out almost daily with her daughter to wander the trails and watch the ducks, birds and squirrels, with her chihuahua mix tagging along.
“One of the things I appreciate most about Irvine is that parks are woven into everyday life here rather than being occasional destinations,” Plette-Dalton says. “Because parks are everywhere in Irvine, there is always an opportunity to stop at one on the way home from grocery shopping, running errands or grabbing a coffee. It makes outdoor time feel like a natural part of everyday life rather than something you have to specifically plan for.”
Her experience helps explain why, year after year, Irvine wins national kudos for its extraordinary parks. This year marked the second consecutive year that Irvine’s park system ranked second-best in the country, after Washington, D.C., in the nonprofit Trust for Public Land’s annual rankings of large U.S. cities.
“Because parks are everywhere in Irvine … it makes outdoor time feel like a natural part of everyday life rather than something you have to specifically plan for.”
Allison Plette-Dalton
“Irvine is a great city for parks, and the numbers prove it,” says Nola Eaglin Talmage, director of TPL’s Parks for People program. Thanks to Irvine’s Master Plan and continuous investments, more than 9 out of 10 local residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. “That is a great achievement and far above the 76% national average,” Talmage says. “Irvine has done the work, and it shows.”
It’s a boon for all residents, but arguably a special one for busy new moms like Plette‑Dalton. “On days when cabin fever starts creeping in, being able to walk to a park and reset outside makes a huge difference,” she says.
