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Big futures at play

AN EXCLUSIVE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

The only one of its kind in Orange County, Pretend City answers children’s natural impulses to learn and explore through play. Every meaningful play experience gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to create joyful memories that will continue to bind families long after their child is grown.

We’re growing
so kids can too

We’ve exceeded the capacity of our current space, and need your help to meet the demand of these growing minds. We’re expanding from our cramped 28,000 sq. ft. to an expansive 72,000-sq.-ft. space, including 33 learning spaces (up from 19), plus an all-new outdoor area and a full-service restaurant.

Pretend City 1

A transformative
opportunity

The City of Irvine has invited Pretend City to build its permanent home on a 45-acre parcel in Irvine’s celebrated Great Park. Alongside our partners, Orange County Music & Dance and the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, we’re creating a home base for early childhood development and intergenerational connection.

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community hub for events & learning

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times the nonprofit partnerships

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times the square footage including 14 new learning areas

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times the number of school children visiting annually

The path to success is paved in play

Play is essential to the healthy development of children. It nurtures their social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth. Emotionally, play is plain fun; it’s a safe zone to imagine, investigate, explore, wonder and just do what children do.

Kid&Water
Kid&Lens

Rooted in child development

From conducting assessments and providing connections to resources to growing our pipeline of esteemed professionals, we’re involved advocates for early childhood development on all fronts. We also work with parents and caregivers to identify engaging strategies they can implement at home.

Kimberly Goll

“Play isn’t just for kids. Engaging parents, caregivers and the community in play is fundamental to the healthy development of every child. The new Pretend City will make that possible.”

Kimberly Goll
President/CEO,
First 5 Orange County

Learning Spaces - Interior

Pretend City at the Great Park will be home for beloved learning experiences—like the amphitheater, post office, doctor’s office, café and home—reimagined from the ground up. They’ll be designed with everything we’ve learned over the past 14 years in our current space. And new experiences will reflect modern life and be welcoming for all.

PC Mail Center
PC Auto Service Station
PC Airplane
City View 1 Day
PC Theater
Tech-Innovation-Lab
Rotating-Learning-Space
Mind-Body-Center
Mezzanine
Media-Studio
Library
Infant-Area
Grocery
Fire-Station
Dispatch
Dentist
Cafe
Wellness New
Tech Lab New
PC City Hall Facade
PC Apartment2
Doctor 2 New
Civic Center New
PC Art Studio 1
PC City Infrastructure
PC New Art Alley
Pet Center New
Town Center
Fire Station 1
sky
PC Home 2
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Learning Spaces - Exterior

A most exciting element of Pretend City at the Great Park is an all-new outdoor space that connects kids with our beautiful natural environment. So, our current “outdoor” indoor learning spaces will become even more inspiring when they’re outside.
PC Farm
PC Construction Site
Beach/jetty New
Mud-Kitchen
Meditation-Garden
Fire-Station-Outside
Climbing-Tree
PC River/Stream
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Be part of a lasting legacy

Our innovative learning spaces foster creativity, critical thinking and social development in young children. These re-creations of the real world lend themselves to perfect sponsorship opportunities.

Progress Updates

The Cultural Terrace will be home to Pretend City Children’s Museum 

The Cultural Terrace will be home to Pretend City Children’s Museum On March 26, 2024, the Great Park Board and City Council voted to approve lease agreements for Pretend City and Orange County Music & Dance. These agreements will pave the way for the development
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The Cultural Terrace will be home to Pretend City Children’s Museum 

The Cultural Terrace will be home to Pretend City Children’s Museum (click here for video)

On March 26, 2024, the Great Park Board and City Council voted to approve lease agreements for Pretend City and Orange County Music & Dance. These agreements will pave the way for the development of the Cultural Terrace at the Great Park into one of Southern California’s most dynamic cultural, historical, educational, and arts centers.   

The development at the Cultural Terrace will feature expanded new homes for the two premier nonprofit organizations. Working together to create a pioneering project on a unified campus that maximizes sustainable buildings and landscapes, the duo and forthcoming partners will begin welcoming visitors in the winter of 2026.   

“The addition of two well-respected organizations at the Great Park will help continue the City’s commitment to fostering youth development and providing top-tier educational programs,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan. “Further, these nonprofits will contribute to the City’s economic development and ensure the Great Park truly is a park for all.”  

Once completed, the pioneering project will provide interactive, one-of-a-kind early childhood learning and development, artistic, and educational programs. 

“Pretend City is looking forward to bringing our early learning and child development programs to even more families, helping them ensure their children are growing up healthy and ready to succeed in school,” said Ellen Pais, Executive Director of Pretend City. “We are especially excited by the opportunity to be a part of this incredible community resource and help make Great Park a destination for all Southern California. We thank the City for its partnership and support and look forward to providing engaging educational experiences for years to come.”   

Campaign Committee

We’re proud to announce our Boundless! Campaign Committee: Travis Boyd, Co-Chair, Boundless Campaign.
Bill H. Lyon, Co-Chair, Boundless Campaign.
Erin Boyl, Board Chair.
Daniel Campos.
Casey McCracken.
Sandy Stone, Co-Founder.
Carl Tong.
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Campaign Committee

We’re proud to announce our
Boundless! Campaign Committee:

Pretend City Staff

Ellen Pais, Executive Director
Linda Hunter, Senior Project Director
Sue Harrison, Chief Development Officer
Barbara Powers, Major Gifts Officer

“We can’t achieve our goal of making learning joyful for all children without a generous investment from our community. This is truly an opportunity to make a lifetime of difference.”

– Bill H. Lyon

New Partner Beyond Blindness

New Partner: Beyond Blindness

We’re excited and proud to announce the expansion of our partnership with Beyond Blindness as a nonprofit tenant of Pretend City at the Great Park. Beyond Blindness, formerly Blind Children’s Learning Center, empowers children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential.
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New Partner: Beyond Blindness

Specialized Services

EARLY INTERVENTION

Comprehensive Early Intervention services available in-home and at their facilities include vision stimulation, therapy services, toddler classroom learning and more to help children reach key developmental and pre-academic milestones.

EDUCATION + ENRICHMENT

Through Education + Enrichment services, students receive itinerant education support with a dedicated teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), orientation and mobility training (O&M) and the opportunity to attend fun and valuable summer camps.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Family Support services offer necessary and comforting support to parents, grandparents, siblings, children and more in the form of education and training and inclusive family events. While also retaining their current Tustin space, Beyond Blindness will occupy approximately 5,000 sq. ft. of interior and exterior space that includes treatment and counseling rooms and offices.

Irvine seal

City of Irvine Announces Approval of Framework Plan

Great Park, presented by UCI Health, has a rich foundation as the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, preserves Orange County’s agricultural heritage and honors its military history. A project area spanning nearly 1,300 acres, with more than 500 acres developed and 300 acres...
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City of Irvine Announces Approval of Framework Plan

Great Park, presented by UCI Health, has a rich foundation as the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, preserves Orange County’s agricultural heritage and honors its military history. A project area spanning nearly 1,300 acres, with more than 500 acres developed and 300 acres in the first phase planning and design stage, the Great Park embraces recreation, competitive sports, parkland and the environment.

The City of Irvine has approved and broken ground on the Great Park Framework Plan to secure the park’s place among the many great metropolitan parks around the world. Priority projects include a world-class botanic garden and veterans memorial park and gardens; a permanent live music amphitheater; rehabilitating existing space to facilitate cultural uses including a music and dance center as well as both children and aviation museums; making needed improvements to the Sports Complex; installing specialty food and beverage options; enhancing the existing Bosque Trail; and focusing on open spaces and a lake feature. View the Great Park Framework Plan and learn more about the development happening at the Great Park here.

Pretend City at the Great Park

Bill H. Lyon

“We can’t achieve our goal of making learning joyful for all children without a generous investment from our community. This is truly an opportunity to make a lifetime of difference.”

Bill H. Lyon
Executive Chairman, William Lyon Homes | Pretend City Board Member | Capital Campaign Advisory Board Chair
Ellen Pais

“High-quality early childhood is the best investment strategy for increasing the number of children graduating from high school, pursuing meaningful careers and having the tools to problem-solve for a lifetime.”

Ellen Pais
Executive Director | Pretend City Children’s Museum

“Children who are allowed to play are faster learners, more creative and more socially competent.”

Dr. Stuart Brown
Founder | National Institute for Play
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Childhood only
happens once

With your help, we can amplify impact. We can meet all children, from all walks of life, at this critical moment in their lives and continue to inspire futures shaped by rich creative experiences.
Want to Play? Contact Sue Harrison, Chief Development Officer, to learn more!
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