Irvine Regional Park

The land now occupied by Irvine Regional Park originally belonged to Don Teodosio Yorba as part of the Mexican grant of Rancho Lomas de Santiago. German colonists in Anaheim used to refer to it as the "Picnic Grounds." James Irvine acquired the property in 1876, and after his death his son James, Jr. deeded it to the county to become Orange County Park in 1897. One stipulation was that its grove of heritage Oak and Sycamore trees must be maintained as naturally as possible.

In 1928, the name was changed to Irvine Regional Park. It was improved with the building of a new pavilion, an exhibition hall, and a new store. In 1960, a bird and animal compound was introduced, which became the Orange County Zoo. In 1996, the Irvine Park Railroad was created, a 1/3-scale train that takes children and adults on a scenic loop through the park.

Today the park's amenities include an amphitheater, bike and paddleboat rentals, pony rides, horse rentals, picnic areas with barbeques and fire rings, baseball fields, trails for hiking and riding, food concessions, horseshoe pits, a playground and tot lot, restrooms, shelters, and a pond with a stone-work waterfall and a foot bridge.

Irvine Regional Park is located in the foothills of Orange County at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, California 92869. Fishing and dogs are allowed.