The short version: "The Great Park" isn't one neighborhood — it's a collection of distinct villages, each with its own personality, price point, and best-fit buyer. On the established (resale) side you've got Pavilion Park, Beacon Park, Cadence Park, Parasol Park, and Novel Park. On the newer, still-selling side you've got Solis Park, Rise, and the newest arrival, Luna Park. They share the Great Park lifestyle — pools, parks, top Irvine schools, and walkable access to Great Park Live and the sports complex — but which one is right for you depends a lot on whether you want a resale home or brand-new, how close you need to be to a specific school or pool, and whether you lean traditional or modern. Here's the cheat sheet I actually use with clients.

Almost every week, someone tells me "we want to be in the [Great Park](/neighborhoods-greatpark.html)" — and then I ask two or three questions and we realize they mean something much more specific than they first thought. So instead of treating the Great Park as one big thing, let me break the villages down the way I do on a real buyer tour: plainly, honestly, and by who each one actually suits. No village here is "bad." They're just built for different lives.

First, How the Great Park Villages Are Organized

Two quick things that make the whole map easier to read.

One: established vs. still-selling. The original villages — Pavilion Park, Beacon Park, Cadence Park, Parasol Park, and Novel Park — are essentially built out, so buying there means buying a resale home. The newer villages — Solis Park, Rise, and the just-opened Luna Park — still have builders actively selling brand-new homes (Lennar and others are running multiple collections right now). If "must be brand new" is on your list, that narrows the map fast.

Two: schools. Most of the Great Park is served by Irvine Unified, with three K-8 campuses inside the villages — Beacon Park School, Cadence Park School, and Solis Park School — feeding into Portola High School. Which village you're in changes which K-8 is your neighborhood school, and for a lot of my family buyers, that single fact ends up driving the whole decision.

The Established Villages (Resale)

Pavilion Park — the original, for the traditionalist

Pavilion Park was the first village out of the ground, and it still feels that way in the best sense: classic architecture, front porches, mature landscaping, a greenhouse and herb garden, pool and spa. If you want the settled, established, "this feels like a real neighborhood already" version of the Great Park — and you like a traditional look over a modern one — start here. Best for: buyers who want established charm and mature streets over the newest finishes.

Beacon Park — the school-centered all-rounder

Beacon Park is built around Beacon Park School, the Great Park's first K-8, with American Heritage-style architecture and one of the widest ranges of home types in the whole area — from attached condos up to larger detached homes. That range makes it one of the most flexible villages for different budgets, and the on-site K-8 makes it a magnet for families. Best for: families who want to walk to a K-8, and buyers who want options across a range of price points.

Cadence Park — the arts-and-design village

Cadence Park leans creative. It has its own K-8 (Cadence Park School) plus a genuinely distinctive amenity set — a Lending Library, an Art Gallery, a Studio, and an art walk dotted with sculptures. Homes run from attached product to single-family. If "design and culture" is part of what you want your neighborhood to feel like, this is the one that wears it on its sleeve. Best for: buyers who value design and culture — plus family buyers who want the Cadence Park K-8.

Parasol Park — the social, green, gathering village

Parasol Park is the entertainer's village: outdoor kitchens, a stargazing deck, a greenhouse, and a famous 75-foot Stone Pine as its centerpiece. It's designed around being outside with your neighbors. If you host, garden, or just want green gathering spaces a short walk from your door, Parasol has a lot of personality for the money. Best for: outdoor entertainers and buyers who want a social, green, community feel.

Novel Park — the modern, urban-social village

Novel Park is the most contemporary of the established villages — modern architecture and an "urban village" vibe with coffee-shop-style gathering spots, dog parks, and pod gardens. It reads younger and more design-forward than Pavilion or Beacon. Best for: buyers who want a modern look and a walkable, social, slightly-more-urban feel.

The Newer Villages (Still Selling New Homes)

Solis Park — school-adjacent and pool-centered, brand new

Solis Park is where a lot of my "must be new and near the school" families land. It's built around a double-park layout with mini-pools, a larger pool with BBQs and lounge spaces (The Retreat), and it sits close to both Solis Park School (K-8) and Portola High School. New construction, walkable schools, resort-style water — it checks a lot of family boxes at once. Best for: families who want a brand-new home within walking distance of a K-8 and the high school.

Rise — park-front, trail-linked, and pool-heavy

Rise is connected by a series of parks and pools — including an Olympic-length pool and an overlook party deck — and it's trail-linked toward Portola High and the Great Park itself. It blends traditional and contemporary home styles, and it's one of the better picks if resort-level amenities and easy access to the park are high on your list. Best for: buyers who want newer homes, serious pool and park amenities, and a trail connection to the Great Park.

Luna Park — the newest arrival

Luna Park is the freshest village on the map, now selling, organized around a 13-acre park with a mix of home types and new community gathering spaces. If you want the absolute newest product and the chance to be among the first owners in a village that's still taking shape, this is the current frontier. Best for: buyers who want the newest homes in the Great Park and don't mind being early in a village that's still filling in.

So Which One Should You Look At?

Here's the shortcut I give people. You want brand-new construction: Solis Park, Rise, or Luna Park. You want an established, resale home with mature streets: Pavilion, Beacon, Cadence, Parasol, or Novel. Walking to a K-8 matters most: Beacon Park, Cadence Park, or Solis Park, since each has its own campus. Pools and resort amenities are the priority: Rise or Solis Park. You lean traditional: Pavilion or Beacon; you lean modern: Novel or the newer villages. You entertain and want green gathering space: Parasol Park.

None of this replaces actually walking the villages — the "feel" of a street is real and hard to get from a website. But it should get you from "we want the Great Park" to a short list of two or three that genuinely fit, which is a much better place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many villages are in the Great Park Neighborhoods?

There are eight villages: the established (resale) ones — Pavilion Park, Beacon Park, Cadence Park, Parasol Park, and Novel Park — and the newer villages still selling new homes: Solis Park, Rise, and Luna Park.

Which Great Park villages still have new construction?

Solis Park, Rise, and Luna Park still have builders actively selling brand-new homes. The original villages (Pavilion, Beacon, Cadence, Parasol, Novel) are essentially built out, so those are resale purchases.

What schools serve the Great Park Neighborhoods?

Most of the Great Park is in the Irvine Unified School District. There are three K-8 campuses within the villages — Beacon Park School, Cadence Park School, and Solis Park School — feeding into Portola High School. Which village you buy in determines your neighborhood K-8.

Which Great Park village is best for families?

There's no single answer, but families who want to walk to a school often focus on Beacon Park, Cadence Park, or Solis Park, since each has its own K-8 on or near the village. Solis Park is popular for families who also want brand-new construction near the high school.

Which Great Park village has the best pools and amenities?

Rise is known for its park-and-pool network, including an Olympic-length pool, and Solis Park offers a double-park layout with mini-pools and a larger pool with BBQ and lounge areas. The established villages each have their own pools and signature amenities too.

Which is the newest Great Park village?

Luna Park is the newest village currently selling, organized around a 13-acre park with new home collections and community spaces.

Let's Talk

If you've been saying "we want the Great Park" without being sure which village you actually mean, that's exactly the conversation I love having — because the right answer usually gets clear fast once we talk through schools, new-vs-resale, and how you actually spend a weekend. I know these villages block by block: which streets are quiet, which are near the pools, which K-8 you'd be walking to, and where the value is right now. [Reach out anytime](/contact.html) and I'll help you build a short list that fits — and if you already own in the Great Park and want to know [what your home is worth today](/home-valuation.html), I'm glad to run the real number.