El Portal Renamed for Richard Reese

The man whose vision defined Rancho Santa Margarita was honored Wednesday as the City Council voted unanimously to rename a street in his honor at their regular meeting on April 22.

Richard Reese Way will be the new name of El Portal, the thoroughfare that runs alongside Central Park, the City Hall/Community Center complex, the city library and the city center between La Promesa and Avenida de Las Flores.

Reese was the community’s master planner, and had similar roles in Anaheim from 1956-65 while Disneyland was being built, and then Irvine from 1966-79. After his retirement from Rancho Mission Viejo Company he chose to settle down in his self-styled “urban village,” which incorporated on Jan. 21, 2000.

“He’s truly the heart and soul of this community … a gem of a human being,” said Mayor Brad McGirr, who credited SAMLARC executive director Candice Fullenkamp for initiating the concept. “He’s the man responsible for the city we have here today. … We live in an urban village surrounded by wilderness. This city was planned in a very specific manner. I can’t think of anything else I’ve done since I’ve been mayor that means more to me.”

In her praise of Reese, Council member Carol Gamble reminded audience members that in 1992, ABC’s 20/20 news program referred to the city as “a modern-day Shangri-La” in a segment on planned communities.

That resonated with council member Michael Vaughn. “When my lovely wife and I first drove into RSM in January 1987, it was clear to us how special RSM was,” he recalled. “I’m so exceptionally proud when people come into our community now, and I trust they have the same reaction.”

A renaming ceremony will be held at a later date.