William R. Mason Regional Park

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William R. Mason Regional Park, or as it is more commonly referred to, Mason Park, is a park in southern Irvine, California. It is one of the largest parks in Irvine and is traversed by trails.

[edit] Background

The first phase of the Mason Park, forty-five acres, opened to public use in 1973. A 50-acre second phase was completed in 1978 that included a 9.2 acre lake which has proven to be a popular attraction.^[1]

Mason Park straddles Culver Drive and is thus split into two parts. The east side of the park is a wilderness area. It features scrub-covered ground, traversed by a bike trail and a small creek. As it is located on the northern edge of the San Joaquin Hills, the terrain is rugged: the south edge is a large palisade, marking the edge of the park. The west side of Mason Park is more like a typical park than the east side. Though a ring of wilderness surrounds this side, it is mostly flat grassland, with an occasional hill or rise. An artificial lake in the center of the park is often home to migrating birds and other local wildlife.

The park is named for former Irvine Company chairman William R. Mason, who in 1959 commissioned the master-planning of the Irvine Ranch by William Pereira.