January 9, 2026 Edition
COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE
Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones had a joyful and festive holiday season. As we begin 2026, I am looking forward to the work ahead and the opportunities to continue delivering results for our community. Public safety, quality of life, and the responsible maintenance of City facilities and public spaces will remain core priorities this year. I am also exploring new pathways to create new open space trails and a more business friendly Irvine. Finally, I will continue to play an active role in the ongoing development of the Great Park. I look forward to doing my part to keep Irvine as a safe and innovative place to live, work, or raise a family. If you would like to share community priorities you believe should be a focus in 2026, please let me know here.
NEW LIBRARY OF THINGS
Need something for a one-time project or want to try a new hobby? Now you can borrow before you buy! Our Library of Things collection includes non-traditional items you can check out for free with your Irvine Public Library card. The collection includes musical instruments, tools, gadgets, learning kits, electronics, and more. The Irvine Public Library’s Library of Things allows residents to borrow useful items for one time projects or to explore new hobbies without having to purchase them. Most items are available for a 21 day checkout period and may be renewed up to five times if there are no holds. Cardholders may borrow up to three Library of Things items at one time. As the Library of Things collection continues to expand, community input is encouraged. To view the catalog of items available or suggest future items, see more.
GREAT PARK CHAIRMAN CARROLL INVITES YOU TO IRVINE'S BUSINESS LEADERS SERIES
You’re invited to the next session of the Business Leaders Series, From Startup to Scale: How Founders and Corporate Partners are Driving Orange County’s Tech Ecosystem, on Thursday, January 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Great Park Hangar 244, 260 Corsair, Irvine. In partnership with Plug and Play, this event will bring together business leaders, investors, academics, and local government representatives to explore how collaboration is fueling growth across our City and beyond. Attendees will hear insights from Ryan Lee of The Pinkfong Company, Johannes Rott of Plug and Play, Joon Jang of Dream Trans LLC, and Ian O. Williamson, Dean of the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. To register for the event, see more.
NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS
Get ready to serve, rally, and smash at 8 new pickleball courts available at Mike Ward Community Park, 20 Lake Rd, Irvine. Beginning February 4, enjoy the new courts, new shade structures, restroom upgrades, and landscape improvements. Currently, the City has 6 lit pickleball courts located at Portola Springs Community Park and 2 at Los Olivos Community Park. In addition, there are 9 hybrid tennis and pickleball courts located at Heritage, Knollcrest, Los Olivos, San Carlo, and University Community Parks. For information on the pickleball courts coming soon, see more.
HOPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS EXHIBIT
You’re invited to the opening reception of HOPE Center for the Arts: Be Seen, the newest art exhibit at City Hall, on Thursday, January 15, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It will showcase artwork by artists from the Irvine based nonprofit HOPE Center for the Arts, an organization dedicated to empowering adults with disabilities through visual and performing arts since 1979. The reception will also feature presentations by Donald Perry and James Bruce Robertson, whose practices exemplify the dedication and growth fostered within the program, as well as a live performance by the Hi Hopes Band. This exhibit will be on display from January 12 - March 20. For details about the opening reception, see more.
Thank you for reading this edition of my Community Update. I hope you enjoyed it.
Mike Carroll