Mile Square is a multi-functional and community oriented park. This philosophy is reflected both in the park's design and its recreational facilities-and activities. Recreational facilities include four softball fields, two baseball fields, vita course, two lakes for fishing, an archery range, three soccer fields, three playgrounds, and a large hobby area that has areas for remote control airplanes, landsailing model rockets' two model car tracks, and free flight and user control model airplanes. Special events such as remote control aircraft contests, archery meets, dog shows, even classic car shows are often held at Mile Square Park. The park has many scenic miles of trails providing an ideal setting for joggers and bicyclists. Add to this 200 acres of grass, trees and picnic facilities, making Mile Square Regional Park a truly enjoyable place to be.
The landscape of Mile Square Regional Park is irrigated with reclaimed water supplied by the Orange County Water District for water conservation. To help protect our environment, this park is set up to recycle your CRV (California Redemption Value) containers. Please deposit your empty recyclable aluminum cans, plastic and glass containers in the Blue receptacles located throughout this park. Together, we can help reduce waste and preserve our resources.
Originally agricultural acreage, this area has gone through many transitions relating to military operations.
The 640-acre bean field, now Mile Square Regional Park, was acquired by the Navy in 1943. Located 5 miles west of the Lighter-Than-Air Base in the rural city of Fountain Valley, Mile Square offered ideal conditions for a training base. A triangular shaped airstrip was constructed to simulate carrier type landings. The area was sparsely populated thus eliminating the danger to the civilian population.
Immediately after World War II a new interest in helicopter aviation shifted the emphasis of the Mile Square Training Base. In 1955 this land was commissioned as a Helicopter Outlying Landing Field under the jurisdiction of the Marine Corps Helicopter Facility, Tustin.
With postwar de-escalation, the land encircling the airstrip reverted to agricultural use. This land was leased to a private farming concern which planted strawberries and tomatoes. The military only sporadically used the airstrip, particularly due to the rapid development of the City of Fountain Valley. The city was rapidly approaching the status of a major metropolitan area. Tracts of houses were quickly engulfing the lands surrounding Mile Square.
During this same period, a controversy developed regarding this final disposition of the Mile Square property. Local homeowners exerted pressure to convert this land to a public recreational area. In the early 1960s the Board of Supervisors, recognizing the need for more county parks, adopted the Master Plan of Regional Parks. The Mile Square area was assigned a position of high priority, and in 1967 a 30-year lease was signed with the Department of Navy.
The conversion of Mile Square from a military installation to a regional park was the result of a partnership of many levels of government. County application for state and federal financing was granted under the State Beach, Park, Recreation and Historical Facility Bond Act of 1964. Further financing was available through the County General fund.
Local city and private investment was also encouraged. A private concessionaire, the lessee of a portion of the park property, opened the magnificent 18 hole public golf course in 1969. In addition, the City of Fountain Valley has leased 55 acres for the development of a City Recreation and Cultural center. The completion of this site ended Phase I construction.
The park opened to the public in 1970. Since that time three separate development projects have added 162 acres of picnic area to the park. The park is now approximately 200 acres.
In 1987 the David L. Baker Memorial Golf Course was completed and is located adjacent to the park's second entrance on Edinger Avenue
County ordinances will be enforced for the protection of all park users. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Operating Hours:
November 1 to March 31, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
April 1 to October 31, 7
a.m. to 9 p.m.
Parking Fees:
| $2.00 | per vehicle per entry |
| $10.00 | per bus per entry |
| $30.00 | Annual Day-Use Pass per year (valid at County Regional Parks - prorated pass available). |
| $7.50 | Annual Day-Use Pass per year Senior Citizen - (60 year or older) and handicapped |
Groups:
Group reservations can be made Monday through Friday, 8
A.M. to 4 P.M., in person at the park office.
Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any way should write to:
Director, Office for Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C. 20240