The Crowd:

It is one of the most ambitious projects to be accomplished in 21st century Orange County.

The Great Park Conservancy gathered support recently at the Shady Canyon Golf Club, Irvine for its annual garden luncheon.

The powers behind the Great Park began their enormous task several years ago when the economy was strong. Despite current economic conditions, they continue to press ahead to create America’s next phenomenal parkscape on what was previously a combination of both government and privately held land in greater central Orange County.

The luncheon is meant to foster interest and financial support for the planned botanical garden, a future centerpiece of the Great Park.

Michael Ray chairs the board of directors of The Great Park Conservancy. As an Orange County developer and partner in the Sanderson J. Ray Development Corporation he has a very significant financial as well as civic tie to the project.

Ray opened the luncheon meeting with an update on the current status, joining event co-chairwomen Lizanne Witte and Rosemary Ward in welcoming the upbeat crowd.

The conservancy has attracted some very powerful community support including Newport’s Marian Bergeson, serving as secretary of the conservancy. Bergeson introduced speakers, including Mike Ellzey, chief executive of the Orange County Great Park Corp., Ken Smith, master designer and Mia Lehrer, principal designer. Also addressing the crowd was Rich Hume, director of the conservancy.

Patrons mingled at Shady Canyon sampling fresh summer peach Bellinis prior to enjoying a luncheon featuring a “Salad d’ Printemps,� which included roasted shrimp with exotic fruits and vegetables drizzled in a hibiscus ginger dressing.

Major support for the luncheon came from founding garden donors Cindi and Steven Fri, Michelle and David Horowitz, Shelia and Jim Peterson, Gale and Frank Robitaille, and Ray family members including Janet and Walkie Ray and Teddie and Michael Ray.

Other community members lending major support were Newport’s Sandra Ayres, Brenda Currie, Jill and Larry Tucker, Lisa and Dan Kassel, Annette Oltmans, Carol Follman, Robin Follman-Otta, and the Cotton family.

The Botanical Garden is considered a priority of the Great Park. Planners are creating a small scale version of the botanical garden which they are going to call the Preview Garden.

It will serve as a model for the greater conservancy garden to come within the Great Park.

Funds raised from the founding donors will enable a study to be conducted that will allow future development of the botanical garden.

Designers and planners are working in conjunction with the Discovery Science Center to move the project forward. The Discovery Science Center has become involved because the garden will be a place where students can learn about science and nature along with organic garden practices and the protection of natural resources.

Spotted in the crowd were Monica Burke and Kelly Heyler, both responsible for the silent auction.

Table décor was created by Andra Broekelschen and Faye Hezar. Keiko Witte and Marilyn Krahe were in the crowd along with conservancy staff members Carol Simon, executive director, Jennifer Wilson, associate director, Colleen Lambert and Newport social activist and community organizer Peggy Goldwater Clay.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.