MIG Inc. has prepared a preferred conceptual design for the New Park in West Orange. The design was presented at the Park Planning and Community Events Commission Meeting on 3/19/24. Additional comments will be accepted via csinfo@cityoforange.org through 3/24/24.

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In the fall of 2023, the City Council and the County of Orange agreed to a long-term 50 year lease of a 2.4 acre piece of property managed by Orange County Flood Control (OCFC) located on W. Chapman between interstate 5 and the 57 freeway.  At the direction of the City Council, a plan to develop the land into a new park immediately adjacent to the Santa Ana River and bike trail was implemented. Adjacent to this property is a proposed workforce housing project sponsored by BLDG Partners.  The City worked with BLDG Partners and Agora Partners on the feasibility of building a park and completion of a conceptual plan for a passive park.  On October 24, 2023, the City Council awarded a contract for design services to MIG Inc.  On February 29, 2024, the public was invited to see the proposed concept, give feedback, and ensure the best design outcome.

If you would like to receive email updates about this project, please email csinfo@cityoforange.org.

The design for the Hart Park Pickleball and Fitness Circuit Project is nearing completion.  The designer, RHA Landscape Architects-Planners, submitted a design plan and construction documents in Fall 2023.  The plans were approved pending complete and approved environmental review.  The consultant submitted a draft California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notice of Exemption (NOE) for the project in November 2023.  City staff reviewed and approved the CEQA NOE, and it has now been filed with the County. 

Additionally, as this project is partially funded through a federal earmark, the City is required to complete an additional environmental review, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The City recently submitted the NEPA FONSI to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and anticipates approval of these documents in the coming weeks. Following HUD approval, a Request for Bids (RFB) for construction will be issued.  The City anticipates that the project will be complete by early Fall of 2025. If you would like to receive email updates about this project, please email csinfo@cityoforange.org.

Last updated 06/05/2024

Congressman Lou Correa successfully obtained $2 million in federal funding for Community Projects through a recent Omnibus Bill for the City’s Hart Park Pickleball Courts project. 

Grijalva Masterplan

Grijalva Master Plan Presentation to Council - September 2022

Grijalva Master Plan Presentation to Council – February 2019

Grijalva Park Extension Conceptual Master Plan – October 2005 

• Subsequent Mitigated Negative Declaration
• Mitigation Monitoring Report
• Exhibits
• Appendix A – Site Photographs
• Appendix B – Skate Park Lighting Plan and Light Spill Analysis
• Appendix C – Air Quality Modeling Output
• Appendix D – Biological Constraints Survey
• Appendix E – Focused Survey Results for LBV – Technical Letter
• Appendix F – Jurisdictional Delineation
• Appendix G – Landfill Closure Plan and Post Closure Monitoring and Maintenance Plan
  • Figure 1 – Area Location Map
  • Figure 2 – Project Site Location Map
  • Figure 3 – Aerial Photograph of Grijalva Site and Surrounding Areas
  • Figure 4 – Schematic of Proposed Landfill Cover
  • Figure 5 – Aerial View Showing Soil Stockpile Location
  • Figure 6 – Aerial View – Soil Stockpile Sampling Locations
• Appendix H – Floodplain Delineation
• Appendix I – Assessor’s Parcel Maps, General Plan, And Zoning
• Appendix J – Traffic Impact Study
• Appendix K – Memo Operational Imitation For Parking Control
• Appendix L – Notices and State Clearinghouse Correspondence
• Appendix M – Public Comments Letters
• Appendix N – Technical Letter (Response to Comments)

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Additional Resources

• November 1999 - Master Plan for Park Facilities, Recreation, and Community Services
• April 1993 - Recreational Trails Master Plan

At the Council meeting on November 14, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Onyx Paving to rehabilitate the pavement along sections of City-owned bike trails and four park parking lots.  The bike trail locations are along the El Modena and the Santiago Creek Trails, as well as walking paths within Hart Park.  The parking lot locations are Serrano, Fred Barrera, and Santiago Hills Parks, and McPherson Athletic Center. Construction is anticipated to begin in December 2023.  Work start date and completion will be contingent upon weather conditions. All work will be done with the intent to minimize disruption to regular park programming or facility rentals. It may be necessary to restrict access to one or more facilities for specific dates, times, or durations for safety reasons. Signage will be placed at trail and park locations accordingly to inform the public of any closures.

Maintenance of park building roofs is critical to the overall preservation of the buildings. Most park building roofs are generally in good to fair condition due to ongoing replacement efforts over the last several years. The most recent roof repairs have been completed at four park buildings:  the Sycamore Concession Stand, La Veta Park picnic pavilion and restroom building, Olive Park picnic shelter, and the Santiago Hills Park restroom building. Future roof repairs will be determined based on need.

Over the last six years, shade sails have been installed over existing tot lot playground equipment in City parks to protect users from sun exposure and cool the equipment that can become very hot during the warmer months.  There are currently shade sails over the tot lots at the following parks: Belmont, El Camino, El Modena, Fred Barrera, Grijalva, Handy, Olive, Serrano, Shaffer, Steve Ambriz, Belmont and La Veta Parks. Shade sails at Eisenhower, Hart, Killefer, McPherson, and Santiago Hills Parks will be considered for installation in future years.

Currently, there are a total of 54 light poles providing area/pathway lighting for Grijalva Park.  The lighting was designed with metal poles mounted on concrete foundations at ground level.  Deterioration near the base of these poles resulted in the need to remove nine poles.  Overall, due to safety concerns, staff identified a need to replace all of the area lighting to include new poles and fixtures designed to resist the corrosive impacts of irrigation water, dog urine, and other factors. In FY23 the City contracted with a design/engineering firm to provide design specifications and construction documents for the replacement of the lighting. Project construction is scheduled to be completed in FY 24 and will be partially funded through the Per Capita Allocation program funded through Prop 68.

On October 20, 2021 the Orange City Council officially cut the ceremonial ribbon that signaled the completion of a six month refresh of Handy Park.

The six-month project, which began in May of this year, replaced the old modular building with a new, attractive pre-fabricated building. Over at the picnic area, the overhead shelter was replaced, and a shade structure was installed over new hardscaping. The parking lot was rehabilitated with new paving, lighting upgrades, and new pedestrian walkways.

Youth sports have already started their fall seasons at Handy, and in just a few short weeks the Community Foundation’s Field of Valor will display 1776 American Flags on the Handy Park Fields, from Saturday, November 6 to Saturday, November 13. Each of the flags will pay tribute to the service of a Veteran or a currently active U.S. Military Service Member.

Handy Park was originally built in 1978, and this refresh will ensure that the park will continue serving our residents and visitors well into the future. We invite you come out and enjoy a day at Handy Park.

The City, in its continuing efforts to maintain its parks at a high level will be resurfacing parking lots. Portions of parking lots at Grijalva Park and Olive Park are scheduled to be done and expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.

Re-opened April 13, 2019

After an extensive, top-to-bottom, refurbishment, Shaffer Park re-opened on April 13 with a grand ribbon cutting and community celebration. Nearly all of the park’s old infrastructure was replaced and upgraded. The old community building was demolished and rebuilt with a brand new community building with a kitchen and adjacent patios, which is now available for rental. A walking path now meanders around the park, adorned with water wise landscaping that is served by an updated irrigation system. We’ve installed a shaded, outdoor exercise circuit, complete with gym equipment that you don’t need a membership to use, and also added shade structures the tot lot. The sports field was also reconfigured and new, energy efficient lighting added. We hope that our community enjoys the renovated Shaffer Park, and that our residents continue to enjoy it for generations to come

Yorba Park and the Yorba Dog Park re-opened on April 7, 2018.

Yorba Park is built on the site of a closed landfill that operated between 1960 and 1963. A Vapor Extraction System (VES) was installed to capture the landfill gases that had been detected at the site so they don’t vent to the surface. The City has continued operation of the Park, and until recently, monitored and managed the VES.

In 2015, a Settlement Agreement was reached between the City of Orange and the County of Orange that identified necessary rehabilitation improvements to the Yorba Park site, and the party responsible for implementing the improvements. There were four project phases.

• Phase I - Grading Project: this includes clear and grub, grading and associated work, and rehabilitation of the parking lot. Completed July 2017.
• Phase II - Vapor Extraction System (VES) replacement (County of Orange Project). Completed January 2018
• Phase III - Park Re-Establishment: this includes a new irrigation system, turf/shrub establishment, replacement of the dog park fence and amenities, and the addition of picnic tables, benches and trees as funding is available. Completed on April 2018
• Phase IV - Restroom Replacement: The existing building has been shuttered for over a decade. This new building will bring back a needed restroom facility. Completed January 2018

The regrading of the park provided an opportunity to make improvements to the Park. These improvements include installation of trees, picnic tables, drought tolerant shrub plantings strategically placed to improve the aesthetic experience while both visiting and driving by the park, a designated path leading to the Santiago Creek Bike Trail from the Park parking lot, and renovation of the existing Yorba Dog Park. Also included is the installation of a restroom facility. All aspects of the renovation and improvements to Yorba Park are consistent with the environmental mitigation measures identified in the approved Mitigated Negative Declaration 1674-01 and 2004 Addendum.