The Anaheim City Council unanimously approved a contract worth approximately $4.5 million last month for the construction of River Park, a new three-acre public space situated behind Angel Stadium along the Santa Ana River. A Palm Desert based landscape contractor was awarded the contract for the project, which is expected to open next summer.
This development represents Anaheim's 69th park and is designated to kick off the implementation of the OC River Walk Project, a broader $200 million initiative aimed at transforming the river corridor into recreational open space. According to a staff report, River Park’s construction costs are entirely covered by environmental grants, with city officials allocating nearly $5.5 million from their current budget towards the park.
River Park’s design will feature elements reflecting the region’s native ancestry. Planned amenities include a playground, an exercise zone, a sundial, picnic seating, panels providing information about native wildlife, and an interactive canoe. A poem will also extend along the length of the park.
A significant detail regarding River Park is the current absence of dedicated on-site parking. City staff cited unspecified obstacles to building parking for the space. Instead, city officials are banking on future development at Angel Stadium to provide parking facilities. Rudy Emami, the city’s Public Works Director, addressed this during a city council meeting at the tail end of last month. Emami stated that future discussions with the Angels would address parking, noting, “we’ll all interact and connect too.” He further emphasized that the park's early construction “enhances and enforces any future development” on the property, encouraging its integration into upcoming plans.
Director Emami's comments preceded the bombshell announcement by Angels Owner Arte Moreno, who declared his intent to sell the baseball team just a week later. This news has spurred renewed inquiries into the future of the publicly owned stadium, especially as city staff had previously hinted at potential development for the site. The current situation unfolds years after a city hall corruption scandal led to the implosion of a previous deal to sell Angel Stadium to Moreno.
Despite the heightened interest in the stadium's future, Anaheim officials have consistently denied engaging in any long-term discussions about another land sale for the Angel Stadium property since the corruption scandal. This denial stands even as a private meeting is scheduled for 2025 involving city officials, real estate consultants, and Angels executives to discuss the surplus land act pertaining to the site. Following the recent announcement of the Angels sale this month, Mayor Ashleigh Aitken described any discussion about future development as “premature to discuss any future development.” However, speaking to The Athletic the same day, Mayor Aitken expressed hope that a new owner would collaborate with the city on a development plan for the stadium. She was quoted stating, “Not to put the cart ahead of the horse,” adding that she envisioned a comprehensive development plan that could include elements such as “youth sports fields and housing, and potentially hotel development.”
River Park is positioned as the initial phase of the larger OC River Walk Project. This project intends to revamp the riverbed corridor, extending from Angel Stadium past the Honda Center to the Anaheim Coves, with plans to introduce a new trail, pedestrian and bicycle bridges, and inflatable dams, transforming the area into a significant recreational open space.
In addition to the developments near Angel Stadium, the Samueli family is also undertaking the development of OC Vibe, a new mixed-use entertainment district. Located across the freeway from the stadium, around the Honda Center, OC Vibe is planned to feature restaurants, hotels, parks, and a concert hall, contributing to the ongoing transformation of the surrounding area.
