A small piece of Orange County's agricultural heritage is being preserved at the new Orange County Great Park, which has been under development for several years.

The park is on 1,347 acres of the former 4,682-acre Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, east of Interstate 5 in Irvine and just south of the Sand Canyon Road farmland that Irvine Co. is developing.

County residents rejected plans to turn the air station into an airport, but approved a $1.1 billion park plan on a ballot measure in 2001.

A balloon ride taking passengers 500 feet in the air for a panoramic view opened in 2007 and a Kids Rock playground opened in 2010. The park will include recreational opportunities, a botanical garden and more, including 100 to 200 acres of preserved, operating farmland.

The property was home to the Marine Air Station from 1942 to 1999, but before that it was part of the largest lima bean field in North America.

The agricultural portion of the new park will include the farm and citrus orchards, an agricultural pavilion of roadside fruit and vegetable sales, community gardening and farm and food laboratory exhibitions.

Produce from the farm will be sold at the pavilion, nearby farmers' markets and will go to area food banks and Orange County Produce, a local produce company.

Home gardening classes will be offered.

-- Dan Wheat