October 1st marked 125 years since the grand opening of Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California right at the foothills of the Santa Ana mountains.
In attendance of the Parks celebration was Orange County Supervisors Dough Chaffee and Supervisor Don Wagner, accompanied by members of the Irvine family and others.
“We thank the Irvine family for their donation of the Irvine Regional Park to Orange County and all of our OC Parks staff for coordinating a fantastic anniversary event,” Supervisor Chaffee said in a public statement.
Originally only 160 acres, the park has since tripled in size with many outdoor activities such as hiking trails, paddleboat rentals, bike riding and other recreational activities like volleyball and horseback riding.
Named after the Irvine family, the park was acquired by the county in 1897. It was a gift from James Irvine and at the time was called Orange County Park. In 1928 its name was officially changed in honor of its donor.
The park offers seasoned themed events, including a kid-friendly haunted house and a pumpkin patch in the fall; train rides for parents and children alike to “Santa’s Village” to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus; Easter egg hunts in the spring and concerts during the summer.
Year-round, the park is additionally a popular spot for large—a minimum of 155 people—group picnics, which are available at four locations by reservation.
Additionally, the park has a miniature zoo. The cost for admission is $2 for visitors three and over and includes entry to a petting zoo.
Fishing is also available at two of the park’s ponds, which are stocked with a variety of fish including bluegill, bass catfish and trout. A California state fishing license is required.
Finally, the park offers a farmers’ market on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
