Free Parking at Irvine's Great Park to End, With Paid Parking Expected in Early 2027
IRVINE — Irvine is a city in Orange County, California. Free parking at the Orange County Great Park is coming to an end. According to the Irvine Watchdog (October 4), the Irvine City Council voted 6-1 on June 23, 2026 to introduce paid parking at the Great Park; installation of the parking system begins this October, with charging expected to start around January 2027.
The city projects parking fees will generate roughly $3 million to $5 million in the first year, funding park operations, maintenance and future build-out. The Great Park, built on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, is one of the region's largest municipal parks; its sports facilities, festivals and weekend markets draw visitors from across Orange County, and free parking has long been part of its appeal.
Details such as rates, annual passes and resident discounts are still to be published. Council members backing the change argue that user fees relieve the general taxpayer; critics worry paid parking will make the park less accessible. Families who use the Great Park regularly can watch the city website for the fee schedule and start date.
The Great Park is still being built out in phases, and its completed attractions — the sports park, the balloon ride and the Farm + Food Lab among them — draw heavy weekend crowds, with parking filling completely during major festivals and tournaments. The city said the paid-parking design will keep some free periods and discount arrangements, to be refined through public input before launch, and that revenue will be dedicated to the Great Park fund rather than general city spending. For visitors arriving on foot, by bike or by transit, the city is also studying added shuttles and bicycle parking. Regular visitors can subscribe to park notices on the city website; final rates and the exact start date will be published once the payment system is installed.
Photo: Great Park Balloon, Irvine, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, Aerophile SA
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 橙县大公园热气球，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0，Aerophile SA
