OCLB – Easy Evening Walk at Fairview & Talbert Parks in Costa Mesa

Easy Evening Walk at Fairview & Talbert Parks in Costa Mesa

Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Please join me on an EASY 4-mile EVENING walk in Costa Mesa!

This walk was suggested by longtime GO members and Costa Mesa residents Tod and Craig Beckett-Frank.

Fairview Park is the City’s largest park, hosting 195 acres of open space – natural area, and 13 acres of manicured landscape for a total of 208 acres. Within the 195 acres of open space there are two Nationally Registered Cultural Resource Historic Sites and five distinct habitat ecosystems which are home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species.

Talbert Regional Park is located North and South of Victoria Street in Costa Mesa between Pacific Avenue and the Santa Ana River. North Talbert consists of 91.5 acres and South Talbert is approximately 88.5 acres.

The park is divided into six separate plant groups, identified as "zones" and based upon the progression of plant groups and changing conditions found along the Santa Ana River. The first zone is designated "Intensive Use Area" and the plant material has been selected based on use instead of its origins on the site. The second zone, a "Border Planting" zone is planted with vegetation designed to maintain boundaries and screen the embankment of the Greenville-Banning Channel.

Another zone, the "Coastal Strand" consists of gentle slopes and dunes, a habitat largely destroyed by the advance of civilization in the area. The "Native Grassland" zone is the largest zone in the park and provides opportunities for wildlife habitats. An "Alluvial Woodland" zone contains a wide variety of plant and animal life and is the most secluded area in the park. Finally, the "Wetland Zone" consists of the southern 14.8 acres of the park and contains elements of riparian woodland and mulefat scrub.

Please meet me at 5:00 PM at the end of the parking lot (near the restrooms)

Fairview Park

2525 Placentia Avenue

Costa Mesa

Bring

Water,  sunscreen and hat.

Optional

If anyone is interested, we can have dinner at Avila's El Ranchito after the walk.  I estimate that we will burn about 626 calories on the hike which should almost cover two tacos and a light beer! 

Avila's El Ranchito

2101 Placentia Avenue, Costa Mesa

Avila's website

If you have any questions about this event, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Trip Leader.

Richard Norman

Email: [email protected]

626-319-4740