Today, Irvine pushed forward with its eco-friendly agenda, dropping a couple of 30-foot coast live oaks into the soil of the Great Park. They've got plans to keep this green party going, aiming to turn the park into an idyllic, not to mention shady, spot for both picnics and breathers from the balmy California heat. According to a statement from the City of Irvine, these "heritage trees" will be a big win for the look and feel of the Great Park, not to mention their role in the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

City Council members participated in a tree-planting event near Great Park Live on Corsair, kicking off a larger effort to plant more oaks later this week.. Mayor Larry Agran was heard waxing poetic about proverbial wisdom, saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” He told the City of Irvine.

Irvine is diversifying its canopy with a mix of California sycamores, ficus, pine, oak, and California pepper trees. With the addition of an ambitious number of 17,000 trees, the Great Park's next 300-acre expansion is going to look a lot greener. Mike Carroll, Chair of the Great Park Board and Councilmember for District 4, remarked on the park's burgeoning looks. He said, “With every tree we plant, we are not only enhancing the natural beauty of the Great Park but also reinforcing the unique character that makes Irvine an exceptional place to live,” as stated by the City of Irvine.

For more details and photos from Irvine’s tree-planting ceremony, visit the City of Irvine’s official news post. Information on the city’s climate initiatives can be found on its Climate Action webpage.