Fairview Park

Fairview Park is the largest park in Costa Mesa, California, encompassing 208 acres of diverse landscape. The park features 195 acres of open space natural area and 13 acres of manicured landscape. Within its expansive grounds, Fairview Park houses two Nationally Registered Cultural Resource Historic Sites and five distinct habitat ecosystems, providing a home for numerous rare and endangered plant and animal species.

The park's ecological diversity is one of its most notable characteristics. It includes wetlands, riparian grasslands, coastal sage scrub areas, and vernal pools that come to life with adequate rainfall. These varied ecosystems support a rich biodiversity, with 197 varieties of plants, including 10 rare species, and 220 different types of birds that have been spotted living, nesting, or resting in the park.

Fairview Park serves as a regional gateway to the Santa Ana River Trail, the Orange Coast River Park, and the adjacent Orange County Talbert Regional Park. It offers visitors a range of passive recreational opportunities, including picnicking, kite flying, wildlife observation, and environmental education. The park boasts 7 miles of trails suitable for walking, hiking, and bicycling.

The park's historical significance is evident in its role as the early Native American village of Lukup. Artifacts from indigenous tribes, whose presence dates back to at least 1500 B.C., are still preserved in Fairview's soil. The space is regarded as a sacred home to the Tongva and the Acjachemen tribes and their descendants.

Fairview Park is not only a natural haven but also a recreational space for the community. It hosts the annual Concerts in the Park series during the summer, organized by the Costa Mesa Foundation. The park is also home to unique attractions such as a miniature railroad operated by the Orange County Model Engineers and a model airplane flying field run by the Harbor Soaring Society.

For those seeking spectacular views, Fairview Park offers some of the most breathtaking sunsets, especially when viewed from the park's western edge overlooking Talbert Nature Preserve and the Santa Ana River Trail.