How should Big Canyon Nature Park be improved? You can help decide

Newport Beach officials will ask community members during two meetings this month to weigh in on plans to enhance the habitat and recreational resources in Big Canyon Nature Park.

City officials, along with members of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and Newport Bay Conservancy, have been working for years to develop a plan to restore the roughly 50-acre habitat west of Jamboree Road and north of the Park Newport apartment property.

Goals of the project include removing non-native vegetation that is threatening what’s left of native plants like coastal sage scrub, stabilizing the creek and flood plain, improving water quality in Big Canyon Creek and Newport Bay and enhancing public access to the area, according to city documents.

City officials hope to ascertain whether the public would like walking and bike trails, benches, lookouts and other recreational elements to be included in the restoration project. The site is currently somewhat shielded from view and significant public access. Utility roads wind through the property, but there hasn’t been a specific set of trails developed with general public uses in mind, according to city Public Works Director Dave Webb.

The first community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. The second will be at 6 p.m. April 26 at the same location.