The proposed 13.67 acre Sunset Ridge Park is situated on the northern corner of the Pacific Coast Highway and Superior Avenue in West Newport Beach. The main vehicular access point is from Pacific Coast Highway and will require an access easement from the adjacent landowner. This route of travel will increase the project area by approximately 3.81acres as the alignment will require grading of the rolling topography. The proposed park is to be an ‘active’ park per the city’s General Plan. Therefore, there are several amenities within the park including:
- Pony League Baseball Field
- Soccer Fields
- Parking Area with Specialty Paving
- Play Area
- Memorial Butterfly Garden
- Overlook Area with Shade Structure
- Vehicular Access
- Meandering Concrete Walkways
- Meandering Retaining Walls
- Park Sign
- Fence at Adjacent Residences
The design intent for the proposed park is to be loose and flowing in nature. As you approach the park from Pacific Coast Highway you meander through natural berms and ultimately descend into the parking area. The radial parking area will incorporate specialty paving, drop-off area for children and bioswales to cleanse the runoff before it is released into the downstream system.
As you continue into the site the restroom is located closely to both the parking area and the play fields. Near the building visitors will have the opportunity to congregate before and after games or wait for a ride in the entry plaza. As you head west one can take a moment at the children’s play area, find a place to picnic or continue on the walking path that meanders around the park or to the overlook and garden area.
In addition to the program elements the landscape design will compliment the overall character of West Newport while paying special attention to views of adjacent residents and the existing natural habitat. The passive area landscape on the perimeter of the site will be a more drought tolerant informal landscape, while the active play areas will be more manicured including turf grass. The garden area will incorporate the use of specific ornamentals that attract butterflies or other natural habitat appropriate to the area. All landscape areas will be irrigated using an automatic underground system. The irrigation system will be divided into several systems based on the water requirements and sun orientation of landscape within each hyrodrozone. The irrigation system shall provide 100% head to head coverage and be designed to minimize overspray.
