Donation to restore Back Bay

The Irvine Co.’s centennial gift to the city of Newport Beach will leave a lasting mark on the environment. The company this week announced a $1 million donation for two projects in the Back Bay, bringing the company’s total gift this year to $1.6 million.

In April, the Irvine Co. gave $600,000 to the construction of the Back Bay Science Center, which is being built on Shellmaker Island. The recent $1 million addition will go to refurbishing pedestrian trails around the Back Bay and enhancing water quality and public access in the Big Canyon area, Irvine Co. senior vice president Dan Miller said.

The city of Newport Beach is spearheading the projects.

The Big Canyon restoration will remove invasive species, address water-quality issues and create public access to the 54-acre area, assistant city manager Dave Kiff said.

The total cost of the project is unknown, because plans are not yet complete.

The trail could be done as early as spring 2007. The financial gift was made at the behest of Irvine Co. chairman Donald Bren, who often visits the Back Bay, Miller said.

Bren wanted to give the city something to help the environment as a centennial gift, Miller said, so the Back Bay was a natural choice.

“That will be long-lasting. That’s here forever,” Miller said.