Supervisor Katrina Foley speaks at State Coastal Conservancy in support of approval of $11.5 million grant to acquire Banning Ranch to preserve as coastal open space park

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released the following statement after the Coastal Conservancy unanimously approved up to $11.5 million in funding to support the acquisition of Banning Ranch as a public coastal open space park.

“For years—as a school board member, city council member, Mayor, and, now, County Supervisor—I worked with community members to preserve the 401 acre Banning Ranch property as a public open space park for the community to enjoy while also preserving the ancestral homelands of local tribal communities,” said Supervisor Foley. “Today’s unanimous decision by the California Coastal Conservancy to support up to $11.5 million in funding for this acquisition brings us one step closer to this decades-long goal, and I was proud to speak at the hearing today in full support.”

“As I said during the public hearing, the preservation of Banning Ranch permanently protects many sensitive, threatened, and endangered plant and animal communities along with providing coastal park access for several disadvantaged and socially vulnerable communities,” said Supervisor Foley.

“Due to a historic local philanthropic gift from Frank and Joann Randall, and the commitment of our community members and state and federal funders, the permanent preservation of the Banning Ranch property is within reach. I’m committed to doing whatever I can to get this across the finish line so we can preserve this coastal gem for future generations to enjoy.”