Oak Creek Community Park Improvement Project
The City of Irvine has developed a plan for improving Oak Creek Community Park. This plan focuses on enhancing services and expanding facilities.
Park Background & Project Concept
Oak Creek Community Park is located at 15616 Valley Oak Drive, between Valley Oak and Sand Canyon. Dedicated in 2001, the park site consists of two lighted soccer fields, one ball diamond, a playground area, a restroom building, one covered group picnic area with eight picnic tables, and approximately 95 parking spaces. The current ball diamond is also utilized as a flex field for baseball, lacrosse, and soccer.
While the 11.8-acre park is primarily programmed for active sport use, a significant number of people access the park for passive recreation activities. A pedestrian walkway connects the park to the Sand Canyon Business Center, a large campus office complex with outdoor workspace, recreation courts, and a cafe.
In summary, the project includes development of the following elements:
- New lighted dog park;
- Improved irrigation and new natural turf on two soccer fields;
- A natural turf flex field;
- ADA updates to existing walkways/pathways and the restroom;
- and additional parking.
Oak Creek Community Park is adjacent to a Southern California Edison 
(SCE) utility parcel along Barranca Parkway. Currently, the SCE parcel is undeveloped land. However, the City has a license agreement with SCE to utilize eight acres of SCE property as an expansion area for the park. The expanded park site will host a new unlighted multi-use field, as well as an additional parking lot.
Environmental Review
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, an environmental analysis was completed for the project. Copies of the project’s Notice of Determination, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), and associated Appendices are provided below:
Central Bark Relocation & Other City Facility Improvements
The Oak Creek Community Park project was planned in conjunction with other improvements taking place at a shared City-owned site that consists of the Central Bark Dog Park, City Operations Support Facility (OSF), and the Irvine Animal Care Center (near the intersection of Oak Canyon and Valley Oak Drive). The City is making safety, customer service and administration support improvements to those sites, which will necessitate the relocation of the Central Bark Dog Park to Oak Creek Community Park. These improvements include an expansion of the OSF, as well as the relocation of its fueling station.
The Irvine Animal Care Center will also be improved to expand and modernize its existing facilities. The project will modernize the clinic, refurbish animal kennel buildings, add customer and animal interaction areas, add a multipurpose room, update administration and reception spaces, add parking, and rehabilitate all animal-related areas.
New Dog Park
The permanent dog park will be located on the eastern edge of the park, along Sand Canyon Avenue. It will replace a soccer field that will be relocated to the west side of the park. The dog park will feature separate double-gated small and large dog park areas, shade trees, benches, and other amenities. Perimeter fencing and screening landscape will be installed to separate the dog park from other park uses.
Central Bark will eventually close this summer; however, the City is currently evaluating a location for a temporary dog park to serve the community from the time Central Bark closes until the permanent Oak Creek Dog Park is completed in 2025. Please check this site for updates as they become available.
Connect with Us
The City of Irvine welcomes input from the community. If you are interested in providing individual feedback or have additional questions, park development staff would be happy to provide more project details. Please contact the City's Capital Improvement Project Hotline at 949-724-6676.
Site Plan Update
The City is reconsidering the planned site layout for Oak Creek Community Park.
On April 19, 2023, the Community Services Commission approved a concept plan for the renovation and expansion of the park:
The concept plan includes a new dog park along Sand Canyon Avenue and relocates an existing soccer field to the west side of the park, adjacent to Valley Oak Drive. However, the relocation would result in the permanent loss of a regulation-sized soccer field. Therefore, the City is requesting that the Community Services Commission consider moving the planned dog park along Valley Oak to keep the soccer field in its current configuration and at its original location. This item will be considered at the following meetings, which are open to the public:
Irvine Sports Committee | July 10, 2024 (7:00 p.m.)
Location: Los Olivos Community Center, 101 Alfonso
Community Services Commission | July 17, 2024 (5:30 p.m.)
Location: City Council Chambers, 1 Civic Center
A copy of the public notice for the Community Services Commission is available online here.
