Donald Bren, chairman of the Irvine Company, has pledged $20 million to expand public access to fifty thousand acres of Irvine Regional Park in southern California, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Bren also announced the creation of the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust, a nonprofit that, said Bren, would guarantee the acreage is permanently preserved. "My vision is that the reserve will set a new standard for conservation stewardship and recreation that will be understood and appreciated, not just in Orange County, but throughout the United States. I believe we can create a world-renowned park...a place where the people from Orange County can enjoy nature close to their homes."

The gift brings to $50 million the amount donated by the Newport Beach-based Donald Bren Foundation to ensure that portions of the former Irvine Ranch are protected and remain in their rugged state. The gift will be used to enhance public access to areas of the reserve that now are off-limits, including the opening of thirty new trails in the next three to five years, Irvine Company officials said, and will also support the restoration and management of various natural habitats.