The Issue
When the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station closed, a number of local governments formed the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority to determine the best use of the land. After Lake Research Partners successfully worked on ballot measures to prohibit the development of an international airport on the site and promote a public park as an alternative, we were retained by the City of Irvine and the Great Park Corporation to gather public input into the park planning process.

The Challenge
The Orange County Great Park will transform the former military base into one of America's largest metropolitan parks. A project of this magnitude required extensive public opinion research among stakeholders, voters, and residents of Orange County to ensure that the park’s design meets the needs of the people of Orange County for generations to come.

The Outcome
As a result of our research, public input into the design of the Great Park is greater than virtually any public project in the nation. We helped the Board of the Great Park Corporation blend high design concepts with a truly “grassroots” understanding of community needs for a Great Park that will be the jewel of Orange County, California.

The Methodology
LRP conducted research among both stakeholders and voters countywide for the Orange County Great Park Corporation. At a stakeholder conference with hundreds of Orange County residents representing various interests and constituencies, we conducted breakout focus group research as well as written questionnaire research, and later conducted survey research among voters throughout Orange County that contributed to a Community Visioning Report. In a third phase of research, LRP designed and conducted an analysis of online research and of parallel written questionnaires distributed to on-site participants at design and use workshops. In future phases of the project, we will conduct additional research to ensure that the views of the public are heard in every phase of designing, building, and operating the Great Park.

The Team
Lake Research Partners (Dr. Robert G. Meadow, Daniel Spicer)
City of Irvine
Great Park Corporation