IRVINE : City Lines Up Behind Plan for Linear Park

The City Council has voted to move ahead with plans to convert a 1.3-mile railroad right of way into a linear park complete with a bike and walking path.

The vote last week caps more than a decade of debate over what to do with the 65-foot-wide sliver of land, located roughly between Culver Drive and Jeffrey Road in Northwood village.

The park’s design was conceived with residents’ help during a one-day seminar in January moderated by San Francisco landscape architect Lawrence Halprin.

With the council’s approval of the preliminary plans, city officials will hire a consultant to draw more specific construction plans. Once those plans are completed, the City Council will decide how much money to allocate to the project.

Development of the park is expected to cost about $1.5 million. The council could order that the park be built right away or be developed in phases over several years.

As currently planned, the park would include a path down its center along with lamps, benches and trash cans. The path would be lined on each side by trees, grass and drought-resistant plants.

The land has been a contentious issue in Northwood for years. Residents successfully fought a proposal several years ago to turn the right of way into a regional bike path.

“After years of wrangling, we’ve come up with a plan that meets most of the concerns expressed by residents,” said Councilwoman Paula Werner. “I think it’s great that we’ve come this far.”