Open Space, Open Questions

Those of us who have lived in Orange County for a long time have seen many changes as it has gone from rural to urban.

But we have also known that the seemingly open land was really owned by someone who had the right to develop the property. The San Joaquin Hills--including Laguna Canyon--could have been developed completely, but, driven by the commitment of Laguna Beach residents and a farsighted landowner with a deep concern for future generations, the story has a happy ending.

Over the last three decades, environmental organizations and city, county and state agencies have joined hands with the landowners to reach this goal. On Nov. 28, the principal landowner, the Irvine Co., announced its 11,000-acre gift to the people of Orange County, including the 173-acre Laguna Laurel area, thus securing this highly developable parcel.

For thousands of people, this stunning act of generosity by Donald L. Bren of the Irvine Co., preserving this parcel as open space forever, brought forth unashamed tears of joy.

In the early 1970s, the Laguna Beach bookstore owner and visionary James Dilley dreamed of a 3,000-to 5,000-acre greenbelt around Laguna Beach. In 1972, the Orange County Board of Supervisors endorsed Dilley’s concept.

Today, the parks and open space within the South Coast Wilderness include 17,000 acres of land and 2,000 acres of marine preserves--almost 30 square miles. This permanently protected Southern California coastal canyon open space is rivaled in immensity only by the Santa Monica Mountains preserve.

The path to this achievement has taken many twists and turns over the years but always has moved forward, thanks to the unremitting support of such organizations as the Friends of the Irvine Coast, Crystal Cove Interpretive Assn., Laguna Greenbelt Inc., Laguna Canyon Conservancy, Village Laguna, Leisure World Residents to Save the Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Naturalist Assn. and Laguna Canyon Foundation--along with many individuals throughout the county and beyond its borders.

Our 17,000-acre South Coast Wilderness park mosaic got its start-up with the 1978 purchase by Laguna Beach of the area now in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park known as the Dilley Preserve. In 1979, the state bought land for Crystal Cove State Park from the Irvine Co. At the same time, the development agreements for Aliso Viejo gave Orange County most of the land for Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park was dedicated in April 1993. The Irvine Co. land for this park included acreage purchased as well as received as part of the Newport Coast development agreement. The balance of the wilderness system is made up of open space in the cities of Irvine and Laguna Beach.

The Laguna Canyon Foundation looks forward to working with those developing the park plans for the last Laguna Laurel land in preparation for its eventual transfer of ownership to, preferably, the city of Laguna Woods.

Through purchase, development agreements and now this Irvine Co. gift, the park system has come together--a vast haven for wildlife, a splendid visual sight of ridgelines, rock outcroppings, sandy beaches, oak and sycamore woodlands and the only natural lakes in Orange County. The South Coast Wilderness gives us and future generations the priceless sights, sounds and smells of early Southern California.

For the people of Orange County, these contiguous parks, open spaces and marine preserves provide opportunities to take guided tours, attend interpretive programs, hike, jog, mountain bike, ride horses, swim, scuba dive, snorkel, surf and explore tide pools.

Dreams really do come true. We at Laguna Canyon Foundation give thanks to the many thousands of people whose commitment and perseverance have helped make this dream become a reality.