Restoration Plans Adopted for Newport Beach Randall Preserve

Officials have finalized management strategies for the former oil field as the 387-acre site prepares for public access.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in National Parks

Screen-print poster illustration showing a native plant growing beside an old metal pipe, symbolizing environmental restoration in a coastal preserve. — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority has approved management plans for Newport Beach’s 387-acre Randall Preserve, marking a major milestone in restoring the former oil field to a protected natural habitat. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority recently adopted management plans for the 387-acre Randall Preserve in Newport Beach. The property, a former oil field, is undergoing extensive habitat restoration to protect its 61 vernal pools and dozens of threatened species.

Why it matters

This project transforms a former industrial oil site into a protected natural open space for the local community. The effort preserves a critical ecological habitat while establishing a long-term plan for public recreation in the region.

The preserve spans 387 acres and contains 61 vernal pools that house endangered fairy shrimp. Currently, there are 26 miles of packed dirt roadways on the property, with planners proposing 5 miles of new public trails.

The players

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

This public agency is dedicated to the preservation and management of open space and parkland in Southern California.

Coastal Corridor Alliance

This organization acts as the primary purchaser and steward for the land acquired in Newport Beach.

Frank and Joann Randall

These donors provided the $50 million foundational funding used to purchase the 387-acre property.

Orange County Community Foundation

This charitable organization donated $200,000 specifically to assist with species preservation at the site.

The details

Workers are actively removing invasive plant species and cleaning up former oil infrastructure left from the site's history starting in the 1940s. The Coastal Corridor Alliance purchased the land in 2022 following a $50 million donation from Frank and Joann Randall, and planners are now seeking $300,000 to finalize the site's visioning work.

Oil production began on the property in the 1940s.
The Coastal Corridor Alliance purchased the preserve in 2022.
Management plans were officially adopted in August 2026.
The first public visitors could tour the land by 2028.

Travel Outlook

The integration of the Randall Preserve into a regional network including the Talbert Nature Preserve mirrors successful local efforts to connect fragmented open spaces into cohesive trail systems. This development signals a broader shift in Southern California toward rewilding industrial lands for public access.

Residents can anticipate future recreational access to the preserve by 2028 as planners connect the site to regional trails like those near Sunset Ridge Park. Potential visitors should watch for further updates on the planned 5-mile public trail network as restoration milestones are achieved.

The takeaway

The transformation of this oil field demonstrates the high cost and multi-year commitment required to return industrial sites to their natural state. Ongoing fundraising efforts remain critical for residents who want to see these natural spaces opened to the public.