The county will provide an additional $225,000 toward repairing and improving safety measures around the Orange Plaza Park and its historic fountain, which was damaged earlier this month during a high-speed car chase.
Third District Supervisor Don Wagner is donating $200,000 from his discretionary funds to help the city of Orange with the repairs. And Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento added another $25,000 on Tuesday, March 28, when the OC Board of Supervisors approved the contributions.
In the latest crash involving the park and fountain at the heart of Old Towne Orange’s traffic circle, police said the driver of a suspected stolen vehicle sped away from officers and drove into the Plaza Park, hitting the fountain and breaking some of the tilework at its base.
Councilmember Arianna Barrios, who represents that area of Orange, said there has been an escalation in accidents in the area over the last three to five years. Shortly before the crash, safety improvements had already begun in response.
In September, the Orange council had approved spending about $310,000 on enhancing protections for the park, such as adding crash-grade bollards around the perimeter and improving lighting throughout the park.
As a result of the accident, the costs have risen dramatically, according to Barrios.
“That both (Chairman Wagner) and Supervisor Sarmiento were able to come together and help us with this, it’s kind of what is the best about Orange and the best throughout Orange County,” Barrios said. “We’re really grateful that everyone can really help us out on this.”
Sarmiento mentioned the restoration of the fountain will be done by the grandson of the designer of its original tilework.
“It’s a very beautiful place, it’s historic, it has a place in all of our memories,” Sarmiento said. “It’s an unfortunate incident that caused damage not just to the periphery, but also to the fountain itself. This is such a special place and we hope that…
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