A new retail center named The Canopy is scheduled to open at the Great Park in 2026, located at the corner of Bosque and Great Park Boulevard in Irvine. This 80,000-square-foot development will feature an anchor grocery store, sit-down and fast-casual restaurants, and various retail shops.
Almquist, the city’s partner for this project, is known for developing Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton and the upcoming River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano.
Hangar 244 Retrofit and Retail Promenade
In addition to The Canopy, the city plans to transform the 12,000-square-foot Hangar 244 into a food hall, creating a seamless connection with The Canopy. The pathway linking Hangar 244 to The Canopy will become a retail promenade, lined with restaurants and shops.
Further Amenities and Cultural Institutions
The Canopy is slated to open in mid-2026, coinciding with the first phase of development in the Cultural Terrace area of the Great Park. This phase will introduce cultural institutions such as Orange County Music & Dance, the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, Pretend City Children’s Museum, and the Asian American History Museum.
Orange County Music & Dance Campus
Orange County Music & Dance, a nonprofit community arts-education school in Irvine, began construction in May on a new 35-acre campus. This campus will include classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces with professional acoustics, and a 450-seat theater shared with community groups and ensembles.
Future Park Developments
Between 2027 and 2029, several major park developments are planned. These include a permanent amphitheater with a capacity of up to 10,000 people, two lakes covering 35 acres, the Great Meadow, and various recreational facilities.
Veterans Memorial Park and Gardens
The Veterans Memorial Park and Gardens will feature a Walk of Honor on an existing tarmac to honor those connected to the former base. Adjacent to this will be botanical gardens offering a serene environment with trails, dry creeks, themed spaces, and a public library.The framework plan also features the Veterans Memorial Park and Gardens, which will include a Walk of Honor on an existing tarmac to honor those associated with the former base. Adjacent to this will be botanical gardens, offering a tranquil setting with trails, dry creeks, themed spaces, and a public library.
Great Park’s Overall Vision
Upon full completion, the 1,300-acre Great Park will be larger than San Diego’s Balboa Park and more than twice the size of New York City’s Central Park.
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