William R. Mason Regional Park
Background
Background
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The first phase of the Mason Park, forty\-five acres, opened to public use in 1973\. A  second phase was completed in 1978 that included a  lake which has proven to be a popular attraction.[OCParks.com: Mason Regional Park](http://www.ocparks.com/masonpark/)

Mason Park straddles [Culver Drive](/wiki/Culver_Drive%2C_Irvine%2C_California "Culver Drive, Irvine, California") and is thus split into two parts. The east side of the park is a wilderness area. It features scrub\-covered ground, traversed by a bike trail and a small creek. As it is located on the northern edge of the [San Joaquin Hills](/wiki/San_Joaquin_Hills "San Joaquin Hills"), the terrain is rugged: the south edge is a large palisade, marking the edge of the park. The west side of Mason Park is more like a typical park than the east side. Though a ring of wilderness surrounds this side, it is mostly flat grassland, with an occasional hill or rise. An artificial lake about  wide and  long in the center of the park is often home to migrating birds and other local wildlife.

The park is named for former [Irvine Company](/wiki/Irvine_Company "Irvine Company") President William R. Mason, who headed the company from 1966 until his death at 54 in 1973\.

Its numerous trails eventually lead to Ridgeline, a street that connects Turtle Rock Loop to University Drive.


Why was the park named after William R. Mason?