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 synthetic 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.
Approved Plan
On July 17, 2024, the Community Services Commission approved a revised concept plan for the renovation and expansion of the park:
The concept plan includes a new dog park along Valley Oak Drive and improvements to the existing soccer fields. It also includes an expansion on SCE property that will serve as a multi-use field and additional parking. A copy of the Community Services Commission Staff Report and July 17, 2024, Meeting Minutes is provided in the links below:
CSC Staff Report for Oak Creek Project Approval
CSC Presentation - July 17, 2024
CSC Meeting Minutes - July 17, 2024
The new dog park will replace Central Bark Dog Park; however, Central Bark will remain open until the new dog park is constructed and open to the public.
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, and modernization of the Irvine Animal Care Center. Central Bark Dog Park will remain open until the new permanent dog park is constructed.
New Dog Park
The permanent dog park will be located on the western edge of the park, along Valley Oak Drive. It will replace a multi-use field that will be relocated to the expansion area 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 Dog Park will eventually close once Oak Creek Dog Park is completed and open to the public. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025. Please check this site for updates as they become available.
Connect with Us
The City of Irvine welcomes feedback from the community. If you are interested in providing comments 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.
