The Randall Preserve: a former oil field now being restored into a thriving coastal habitat in the heart of Orange County. Credit: AirViews

Former oil field poised to become vital open space through community-led planning

What once powered Orange County’s growth is now being reimagined as a place of renewal, connection, and healing. The Randall Preserve, formerly called Banning Ranch—a prior oil field undergoing extensive remediation—is entering a new chapter, and the public is being invited to help shape its future.

To support this next phase, Coastal Corridor Alliance, formerly Banning Ranch Conservancy, in partnership with the Preserve’s titleholder Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, has launched a new website, RandallPreserve.org, designed to increase transparency and community involvement. The website features an interactive story map that explores the Preserve’s past, documents current cleanup efforts, and introduces ideas for future uses—including habitat restoration, walking trails, and educational spaces. Take a survey, subscribe to monthly e-newsletter, or learn about the planning process underway.

The Preserve is set to become a key part of the local park system and it is now in the community planning phase. This effort will result in three foundational documents: a Resource Management Plan, a Public Access Plan, and a Coastal Resilience Strategy. Coupled with a Tribal Access and Engagement Plan, these documents will guide how the land is restored, accessed, and protected for generations. The planning team expects the documents will be available during the second week of May. Subscribe to view the documents available for public comment.

These wetlands on the Randall Preserve, have significant potential for restoration—creating an essential refuge for wildlife along the Southern California coast. Credit: Coastal Corridor Alliance

From Extraction to Restoration

For decades, the Randall site operated as an active oil field. Like many post-industrial properties across California, it now faces a complex remediation process. Soil must be treated, old oil infrastructure must be safely removed, and buildings must be leveled. The former oil operators are responsible for cleaning up the site. Once cleaned, the site will be ready for managed public access, education and interpretation programs, and restoration.

But for those leading the planning process, it’s about more than the current cleanup efforts. It’s about reestablishing a connection between the community and the land—one rooted in care, collaboration, and shared purpose.

Residents gather for a community workshop to shape the future of the Randall Preserve, discussing restoration priorities and public access plans for the coming year. Credit: Coastal Corridor Alliance

Public Open Houses Set for May and June

Community members are encouraged to get involved through a series of open house events, both virtual and in-person. These gatherings will provide opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, and engage directly with environmental experts and planners. These are a “drop by anytime” type event where visitors can get right into discussion with the team or watch a video about the plans before engaging with the planning team.

All in-person events will include food and drinks. With advance registration, attendees can also access interpretation services, childcare, and transportation assistance.

A Randall Preserve focus group dives into the special status species on the property, like the California gnatcatcher. Credit: Coastal Corridor Alliance

Open House Schedule

Events will feature an introduction to each plan and the Preserve, interactive planning stations, a historical and background context station, a cinematic drone tour, and idea boards where the community can provide their input.

Bluffs at the Randall Preserve reflect the region’s geologic history and support native plants adapted to the coastal bluff environment. Credit: Coastal Corridor Alliance

A Chance to Build Something Meaningful

Randall Preserve represents a rare opportunity to turn a site of extraction into a beloved nature preserve. Community ideas can become a model for how post-industrial lands can be transformed into welcoming, resilient, and ecologically vibrant places.

Whether you’re passionate about local wildlife, recreational trails, or climate resilience, the planning team stresses that now is time to get involved.

“We’ve written the first few chapters of this project,” said Melanie Schlotterbeck of the Coastal Corridor Alliance. “But it’s the community’s ideas and passion that will inspire what comes next.”

To learn more, explore the story map, or RSVP for an open house, visit RandallPreserve.org.

Bill Meincke is the Communications Specialist at the Coastal Corridor Alliance and a reporter, fact-checker, and copy editor with experience across a wide range of media platforms. He brings a passion for clear, compelling storytelling to everything from breaking news to public outreach and community campaigns.

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