Coastal Corridor Alliance

The mission of the Coastal Corridor Alliance is to protect biodiversity, foster community stewardship, and advocate for appropriate human access on the Randall Preserve and Santa Ana River Coastal Corridor.

After more than 20 years of being engaged in the preservation of Banning Ranch, success was achieved on December 16, 2022 when the land was purchased as a public preserve, with the title held by the joint-powers authority known as the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA). The new name of the property is the Randall Preserve, in honor of Frank and Joan Randall, whose kick starter $50 million dollar donation made the acquisition possible. In 2024, Banning Ranch Conservancy became the Coastal Corridor Alliance.

Looking ahead we are working cooperatively with the MRCA and an assortment of agencies, local jurisdictions, non-profits, tribes, and neighborhood and community groups to ensure that the Randall Preserve can be enjoyed by future generations. This work includes developing a Resource Management Plan, Coastal Resilience Plan, and Public Access Plan. Additionally, in 2023, we launched a volunteer program, which began a community led restoration project in Fairview Park and volunteer opportunities cleaning up trash at the mouth of the Santa Ana River. In 2024, our work expanded into local disadvantaged communities to ensure residents are aware of the public processes available in the Coastal Corridor. By 2025, the Randall Preserve draft plans were released with draft final plans available in Spring 2026.

Our most recent achievements include:
* Preparing the Randall Preserve for public access while safeguarding sensitive habitats and wildlife, we spearheaded a multi-year environmental study of the property. It culminated in a lengthy public comment period that generated over 1,800 comments, 750,000 social media engagements, and reached 33.9 million people through print and media campaigns.
* To ensure communication between jurisdictions, departments, and land managers, CCA has coordinated meetings, including ongoing quarterly land manager forums. We discuss planning and management issues each entity faces and find ways to combine efforts. This has been very valuable to organizing, decision-making, and working to unify stewardship and trail access across different parks and preserves.
* Our popular and volunteer-driven beach and river mouth cleanups prevented large amounts of toxins, pollutants, and microplastics from entering marine ecosystems and the food chain, removing more than 600 gallons of trash from local beaches and waterways.
* Volunteers contributed over 6,300 hours to the Coastal Corridor community, including supporting native plant restoration and extensive invasive species removal across Fairview Park’s natural landscape. This program helps establish a land ethic for better stewardship by the public.
* We continue to partner with the Sea and Sage Audubon Society to host monthly themed tours. These naturalist guided events combine environmental education with outdoor exploration and birding. Our focus was getting disadvantaged community members and the disabled community into nature.
* More than 1,500 participants transformed trash collected from the Santa Ana River watershed into over 150 unique art pieces, which together formed a stunning 10-by-20-foot educational mosaic. This art project weaved together Acjachemen Tribal history, land conservation, and local ecology.

The Coastal Corridor requires thoughtful and strategic action to defend regional biodiversity, engage eager volunteers in stewardship, and provide meaningful access to these species rich parks and preserves. Your investment helps us achieve these goals:
1. Complete habitat restoration planning and studies for the Randall Preserve (Funding Needed: $1,000,000)
2. Begin design and planning stages for the offsite Randall Preserve Interpretive Center (Funding Needed: $500,000)
3. Collaborate to create a unified visitor experience across the Coastal Corridor (signs, trail design and connectivity, amenities, etc.) (Funding Needed: $350,000)
4. Develop a publicly supported Randall Preserve Vision Plan (Funding Needed: $300,000)
5. Establish a Native Plant Nursery at Fairview Park that increases community empowerment (Funding Needed : $250,000)

Orange County

As we reflect on 2025, the team behind the Coastal Corridor Alliance (CCA) is filled with pride and gratitude for all that we’ve accomplished together. From the days of chanting at City Council meetings and Coastal Commission hearings, we now gaze upon a new horizon with hope and a solid foundation for the future.

This year brought meaningful progress in meeting our mission. Thanks to your unwavering support, we expanded our reach, launched innovative programs, and fostered a connected community dedicated to environmental health and sustainability.

A highlight of the year was facilitating multi-year studies of the Randall Preserve which provides a framework for habitat and species protection, identifies key restoration opportunities, and delineates appropriate public access. We also continued to expand our community-driven programs,
engaging thousands of volunteers and participants in a variety of meaningful and hands-on experiences that inspire lasting ecological stewardship.

None of this would have been possible without our dedicated donors, funders, volunteers, and partners. Every contribution of time, talent, and resources remains vital to our success.

Looking ahead, CCA is strategically positioned to build on this momentum in 2026—growing our collaborative efforts, embracing new opportunities, and meeting challenges with creativity and determination. Together, we are ensuring a thriving future for the plants, the animals, and the people who call the Coastal Corridor home.

We are especially excited to enter the next phase for the Randall Preserve, which includes park planning. While the most difficult part (acquisition) is behind us, the future will require continued hard work and dedication. This is a multigenerational effort in every sense of the word and we are bound and determined to see that the Randall Preserve is one of the greatest success stories in the history of Southern California coastal parks.