Juaneno Tribal Village Park Construction Planned For Fall, 2020

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — It has been four years since the Orange County City Council first approved the Juaneno Cultural Village plan. The 1.5-acre area of land in San Juan Capistrano, sacred to the ancestors who still live in the area, sits alongside the 5 freeway, in a multi-use area known as Northwest Open Space.

To the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, this is the village of Putuidem, where their people lived before the Spanish arrival into Orange County.

When it is complete, the park will pay homage to the Acjachemen culture with an educational area displaying artifacts and exhibits, including authentic structures.

According to a previous Patch report, the plot of land has been a sticking point for the tribe for 30 years.

The city says they, at last, have funds to maintain the park when built, using lease income from the Swanner House and Christmas Tree Farm, which is owned by the city, according to a report from the Orange County Register.

According to Public Works Director Tom Toman, a budget of $2.8 million was set aside for the project, originally expected to take four years to complete. That four years will be up at the end of 2020.

Read also: San Juan Capistrano claims land for City Park, Juaneno Cultural Village.