Yorba Park Revitalization: Maximizing Public Health, Safety and Enjoyment

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Description – The Yorba Park Revitalization is a joint venture by OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) and the City of Orange to upgrade a facility located at a closed landfill. OCWR is an agency of the County of Orange, California. It manages the County’s solid waste disposal system, including three of the nation’s largest active landfills and numerous closed sites. Purpose – The County of Orange operated a landfill at the Yorba Park site in the 1950s, later deeding the site to the City for park use. In 2015, the County agreed to split responsibility with the City to address environ-mental challenges at the site, with the County responsible for the dilapi-dated landfill gas (LFG) collection system and the City responsible for the park surface, which was prone to sinking and cracking due to settlement of the underlying waste. Outcomes – The County and City embarked on an effort to improve the LFG collection system and revitalize the park. This project required consider-able coordination from all parties to address regulatory hurdles and construction logistics. The end result was a facility that achieved its objectives of protecting public health and transforming a former disposal site into a safe, attractive, useful community space.