Irvine's Wild Rivers water park will close at the end of the summer, to be replaced with a new apartment development.

The Irvine Co. plans to develop about 1,700 apartments there.

"This parcel of land was always meant to transition to a more a permanent use," Erin Freeman, Irvine Co. spokeswoman, said via email. "Over the past several years, the Irvine Co. has worked with the city and community on a land-use plan for this area that would ensure the city's long-term economic health."

The area was rezoned for residential use by the Irvine City Council in 2006, and the Irvine Co. chose to end the lease agreements in 2007.

The water park was allowed to remain an additional four years, but during that time Wild Rivers was unable to secure a relocation site. "When you start looking at Orange County and large parcels of land, there is not many that are undeveloped," Wild Rivers President Mike Riedel said.

Read more: "Apartments replacing Wild Rivers."

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-- Sarah Peters, Daily Pilot / Times Community News

Photo: Kids at Wild Rivers. Credit: Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times