The 26-facility county parks system includes the Irvine Ranch Open Space, comprising Limestone Canyon, Weir Canyon and Fremont Canyon nature preserves, as well as Black Star Canyon Wilderness Park.
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Description
Ralph B. Clark Regional Park is nestled at the foot of the Coyote Hills. The 104-acre property extends north and south of Rosecrans Avenue with the softball complex. The park lands range from large open grass areas, to gently rolling hills of native plants, to sheer sandstone cliffs to the north.
A variety of recreational activities are available at Ralph B. Clark Park. These include large shaded picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, and children's playground areas. Team sports enthusiasts can enjoy spacious play areas including two sand volleyball courts, three softball fields and a baseball diamond. Children of all ages can enjoy fishing in the stocked three acre lake. Four tennis courts are located within the park and an amphitheater which overlooks the lake, is ideal for outdoor plays and recreation programs.
The Interpretive Center, which opened in September of 1988, contains a paleontology museum that provides an educational view of prehistoric Orange County through exhibits, programs and guided tours. Also the opportunity is provided to watch scientists and volunteers excavate and prepare fossil specimens for study and educational exhibits.
History
Ralph B. Clark Regional Park has a rich history of fossils. Over 10,000 years ago this site contained marshes, grassy meadows and oak woodlands, inhabited by at least 70 forms of life including the ancient mammoth, ground sloth and ring-tailed cat. Paleontologists have discovered remains of prehistoric camel, whale, bison and the largest collection of fossilized pond turtles in Southern California.
The rich fossil beds were revealed when the California Division of Highways excavated sand and gravel from the site for use in construction of the Santa Ana and Riverside Freeways from 1956 to 1973. At the time the park site was known as the Emery Borrow Pit.
The significance of the site led to public demand that it be preserved. As a result, the County of Orange acquired the property in 1974.
Construction began with Phase I in 1979 and was completed in 1981. Phase I development was limited to the parcel south of Rosecrans Avenue. The Phase II development is the Interpretive Center and was opened in September 1988. The Phase III development is the softball complex to the north of Rosecrans. Construction was completed in 1988 and includes additional ball fields, group picnic areas, parking and restroom facilities.
Today, unique Ralph B. Clark Regional Park not only preserves the fossil beds, but also provides a variety of recreational and educational opportunities for everyone.
Upcoming Activities
Join us at Clark Regional Park
Enjoy a morning at Clark Regional Park and learn about colorful dragonflies! Participants will visit the Interpretive Center, listen to a story, take a short walk in the park and make a craft. Activities are designed for ages 2 to...
Learn about native, introduced, and invasive plants and join us as we work toward restoring healthy habitat areas at Clark Regional Park by managing and expanding the garden as conditions permit. Experience the satisfaction of weeding invasive plants and observing...
After the sun has set, the night sky fills with small but mighty flying bats. Enjoy an evening discovering how important bats are to our ecosystems and how they help us stay bug-bite free! The program begins in the Interpretive...