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At 190 acres, Huntington Central Park is one of the largest passive park settings
in Orange County, including the Talbert Lake, Huntington Lake, Shipley Nature Center,
an equestrian center, four miles of walking paths, home to the monarch butterfly,
habitat for over 300 bird species, and contains over 12,000 trees. The park provides
a quiet retreat from the usual city turmoil and is located approximately 3 miles from
the coast. The park is considered a bird watchers heaven, housing wrens, loons, tanagers,
flycatchers, pelicans, egrets, ducks, coots, falcons, owls, kingfishers, woodpeckers,
larks, vireos, sparrows, finches, and more.
The land now known as Huntington Beach has experienced several
development phases and was originally swamp lands with a highland known as the mesa.
Central Park is currently located in the mesa area. The area was primarily used for
farming purposes until the spring of 1968 when Mayor Donald Shipley and representatives
of the Audubon Society, Sierra Club and Nature Conservancy made a trip to the mesa
area and decided it was time to acquire the undeveloped land for the development of
a park. These actions led the way for several years of land acquisition and park development
in the existing location. The unique site is one of the few such places in west Orange
County. With its fresh water and natural vegetation, it is outstanding habitat for
wildlife, especially waterfowl and birdlife. Although the topography of the land has
changed some since the turn of the century, the geography has not. The lakes were
formed over the years from fresh water springs that seeped up to the surface after
peat and gravel were excavated from the land.
Shipley Nature Center is an 18 acres nature center consisting
of a variety of habitats frequented by many birds and other native wildlife. A great
variety of plant life can be found there, including many edible varieties. A ½
mile self-guided trail (booklet provided) meanders among forest, grasslands, and a
freshwater marsh. Huntington Lake is 12 acres and has water year around, however the
level substantially decreases during the dry season. Talbert Lake is 16 acres and
completely dries out when the ground water table is low during the dry season. Fishing
is permitted according to State Fish and Game Regulations, however catch and release
is recommended. No boats or rafts are permitted on the lakes. Fish species include:
channel catfish, bullhead catfish, bluegill and carp.
 
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