Despite a light drizzle Tuesday, many Irvine community members spent the afternoon at the Great Park for the 2025 “State of the Great Park” event.

The City of Irvine and the Great Park Board invited neighbors for a first look at the progress being made at the Great Park through immersive partner exhibits and a presentation from Great Park leadership.

“You are the reason that Irvine leads the nation in building a city and community that we can all be proud of,” said Great Park Board chairman and Irvine City Councilmember, Mike Carroll, in an address to the crowd. “Twenty years ago, this place was on track to be a massive international airport and 20 years ago community leaders fought back to preserve this place as a park for all of us to enjoy.”

The lawn of Great Park Live resembled a carnival — a rainy one — with games, mini golf, bounce houses and food from Chick-fil-A, Wetzel’s Pretzels and more. The program began with a performance by the Pacific Symphony, which makes the temporary live music venue its summer home, followed by remarks from Irvine Mayor and Great Park Board director Larry Agran and Great Park Board vice chairman and Irvine City Councilmember William Go.