EDITORIAL

At its conception more than a decade ago, the Upper Newport Bay

Interpretive Center, to be constructed at the county’s regional park

along the northwestern edge of the preserve, was expected to be a sight

to behold.

That is if you could ever find it.

Created by renown local architect Ron Yeo, the center itself was to be

camouflaged. It would not be obtrusive and damaging to the landscape, but

instead it would blend subtley into the natural vegetation and habitat.

Now, it seems, that has worked. Maybe too well.

One year after its grand opening, the $8-million interpretive center,

named after Peter and Mary Muth, is a little-known piece of the Back Bay.

Its obscurity and subtleness has rendered the center invisible to

those who live and drive past the locale near the corner of Irvine Avenue

and University Drive.

We believe it’s time to fix that, and apparently county officials do

too.

They have promised a publicity campaign to draw attention to the

center and the ecological preserve beside it.

There are several ways to do this.

First and foremost should be through the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District and local private schools.

Teachers and principals can schedule trips to the 10,000-square-foot

center that was built with recycled wood, plastic and steel.

While the center itself is a wonder, built into the hillside and

covered with native grasses, there is much for students and teachers

alike to learn from the 1,700-acre Back Bay estuary, and the wildlife and

natural foliage that flourish there.

If that’s not enough to draw crowds, we urge county officials to run

public service announcements in local and regional media to put the

spotlight on this valuable resource.

Because as people know more about the Back Bay and its treasures, it

will increase the probability that this jewel of Newport Beach will be

forever protected.