Our Remarkable, Award-Winning Planned Community

For 20 consecutive years, Irvine has been ranked as America’s “Safest Big City,” based on FBI crime statistics.

In just the past few months, Irvine has been recognized for having the best park system in California and the second best in the United States. Irvine is also the fourth best place to raise a family; the fourth least stressed city; and the tenth healthiest community in America. In July, we were named Southern California’s best city for renters. No wonder we are also ranked as the third happiest city in the nation!

None of these achievements happened by accident. They are the result of decades of meticulous planning and controlled-growth strategies. Most of our City’s leaders have prioritized quality of life, community, and environmental health over rapid expansion.

I often read comments from longtime Irvine residents who complain about building proposals and our City’s growing traffic. I get it. Once you find a terrific place to live, you really don’t want anyone else moving in. That’s just human nature.

Forty years ago, our City’s population was roughly 85,000. Today more than 315,000 people call Irvine home. High-paying jobs, award-winning schools, beautifully maintained parks, and safe neighborhoods have made our City a very desirable place to live.

Although our population has dramatically increased over the past four decades, Irvine continues to be surrounded by more than 10,000 acres of permanent open space, with an additional 700 acres being added in North Irvine — through the new Gateway Preserve — that will provide residents with even more areas for hiking, biking, and enjoying the outdoors. And 96% of Irvine residents still live within a 10-minute walk to a park. Our City is also home to approximately 550,000 trees, the third most of any city in Southern California. Mayor Larry Agran’s Urban Forest Master Plan is expected to plant tens of thousands of additional trees in the coming years to help cool our City, clean our air, and provide much-needed shade.

The leading problem that comes with growth is increased traffic. The Council has been doing its part to encourage residents to leave their cars at home. The Council has financially supported expanded school bus service and has authorized expansion of the free Irvine CONNECT shuttle bus system to provide the four-year phased implementation of what will become citywide service. The City is also building protected bikeways and pedestrian/bike bridges to keep residents safe as we learn to “share the road” while moving around town.

Even as we tackle the traffic problem, Irvine continues to be a remarkably well-planned community, which is why we keep winning awards.