The first phase of the Great Sports Park has been opened up by the City of Irvine. The park is a public/private partnership developed by Five Point which will be operated by the city. CEO Emile Haddad told KFI's Kris Ankarlo that parks like this are about more than just fun and games.
"It's all about people. At the end of the day, fields are fields. But what fields provide in terms of people's relationships is what's more important."
Among the park's amenities; five sand volleyball courts, twenty-five tennis courts, six soccer fields and even a soccer stadium that fits 5,000 people. The good news? You don't have to be a resident of Irvine to take advantage.
"Everybody is welcome, we don't check your license at the door," Mayor Donald P. Wagner joked.
Haddad says once the park is completed, it will be double the size of Disneyland and have facilities available for softball, baseball, basketball and even more soccer fields. Haddad says the fields will help bring opportunity to young people to chase their dreams
"On this soccer field, a champion will be born."