Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo is a great symbol of "The California Promise." Nestled in the rolling hills of the valley in south Orange County, Mission 
Viejo is seen as a model community, renowned for its beautiful parks and tree lined boulevards, modern business and commercial centers and the exceptional quality of life it offers to the folks who live here. I love the natural splendor of its wilderness areas and the serenity of a sunset on Lake Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo's success gained recognition in 1986 when it became the first American city to be honored as a "World Class Community" at The First International New Town Conference. In 1992, Mission Viejo received the Award for Excellence from the prestigious Urban Land Institute which stated that Mission Viejo "stands as one of the most successful American new towns ever realized." We enjoy a mild Mediterranean-like climate that encourages outdoor activities year round. A sense of community and civic pride have fostered an atmosphere of belonging that is rare to find, but all too evident in the many social and cultural activities we enjoy in Mission Viejo. Mission Viejo has been a dream come true, with a rich quality that is unprecedented.
Mission Viejo has carefully combined its residential, commercial and recreational opportunities to produce a community second to none. Mission Viejo was designed so that its citizens could live, work and play within its boundaries. The preservation of this dynamic concept is fully supported by Mission Viejo's city government. Best of all, in Mission Viejo we have peace of mind in knowing that this quiet community was "ranked the number #1 safest city in the country for cities with a population between 75,000 and 100,000." Mission Viejo earned the inaugural Spirit of Volunteerism Award from the Volunteer Center of Orange County. Mission Viejo received the 1999 National Fitness City Award from the National Recreation and Parks Association and the American Park and Recreation Society for the positive impact the City has had on fitness and wellness at the local, state, and national level. With a diversity of neighborhoods, housing types and price ranges we continue to attract active young professionals, growing families and mature adults. In keeping with its reputation as a world-class community, the City of Mission Viejo was host to the long distance bicycle competition in the 1984 Olympics. In 1992 Lake Mission Viejo was the site of the Olympic Trials for the United States Kayak Team as well as the training site for the 1994 U.S. Men's National Soccer Team. The accolades continue with the Mission Viejo Library winning the California Landscape Design Critics Council Award for landscape architecture that "brings people and architecture together." In Mission Viejo we are dedicated to creating a safe, fulfilling and unique environment that will preserve and enhance the quality of our lives and the lives of our children. We love being a part of a caring community where people are all the difference.
There is no better place to play than Tree City USA. Mission Viejo was named for the second year in a row as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of the city's continuing efforts to preserve and protect its impressive urban forest, which now numbers abut 65,000 trees. Every home in Mission Viejo is within one mile of a community park. With a total of 43 parks within the City, and the highest per capita park acreage among South Orange County cities, we dont have to leave town to enjoy the natural beauty of the great outdoors. Hiking, biking, tennis, soccer, swimming, softball, baseball, golf, boating and fishing, Mission Viejo has it all! To complement a spirited lifestyle the city has four recreation centers and two tennis complexes. These outstanding recreational facilities, two of which are newly renovated, include three competition and nine recreational swimming pools, a 25-meter Olympic diving pool, lighted tennis courts, handball/racquetball courts, a large multipurpose indoor facility and gymnasium, outdoor basketball courts, saunas, billiard tables, weight rooms, and outdoor playgrounds. The West Coast Chapter of the International Society of Arborists recognized the City of Mission Viejo for outstanding Arbor Day Activities and the ongoing landscape beautification projects in the city. Mission Viejo's Florence Joyner Olympiad Park received an Award of Excellence from the California Park and Recreation Society for being the best-designed and best-planned new park facility in the state. Superior performance in competitive water sports has become synonymous with Mission Viejo's Nadadores. The Nadadores Swim and Dive Teams have set numerous World Records and have won many Olympic medals. The annual Orange County Performing Arts Center Triathlon fundraiser is also held in Mission Viejo attracting both world-class professional athletes as well as amateur 
athletes. Golf enthusiasts can work on their game at the Casta del Sol public golf course, an 18-hole executive course designed by Ted Robinson. Or, they can test their skills at the private Mission Viejo Country Club. The Country Club is highlighted by a championship 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones and a 38,000 square foot Clubhouse with complete facilities. Arroyo Trabuco, an 18 hole, 240 acre, public course. The Yacht Club's monthly regattas provide organized races for everyone from beginning sailors in rental boats to experienced sailors in one design championship fleet regattas. In a climate like ours it is always a pleasure to be outdoors and Mission Viejo makes that easy, there is truly something for everyone. And if you consider shopping a sport, hit The Shops at Mission Viejo. The mall features over one hundred specialty stores including major tenants such as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Robinsons-May and Macys.
Lake Mission Viejo is one of the focal points for community activities. The Lake is the site for the annual Easter Bunny Visit, open air film screenings, the Summer Concert Series, the Lakefest fair, October's Halloween Haunt, the exciting Annual Lake Mission Viejo Regatta and the annual dazzling Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. And no hometown would be complete without a 4th of July Community Street Faire. This celebration brings out thousands of residents each year to play games, watch concerts, browse booths and cap off the day with a fireworks display. It is definitely fabulous family fun on the fourth. Another tradition we look forward to is the Santa House where hundreds of children come to see Santa Claus and provide their gift wish lists. Exclusive in Mission Viejo is the Children's Creative Festival, also known as Fun With Chalk. This annual event brings professional artists and local non professionals of all ages, to demonstrate their talent by using chalk to create works of art. Proceeds of this event are used for Grants to fund art programs in the Saddleback and Capistrano Unified School Districts.
There are so many reasons to do business in Mission Viejo. Entrepreneurs, small businesses and large corporations alike enjoy doing business in our city. California. Corporate headquarters, business parks, research and development facilities and retail locations are all available in Mission Viejo. Business and industry enjoy access to an affluent market as well as a built-in housing base, business-friendly atmosphere and highly educated employment base. A majority of Mission Viejo residents over the age of 25, have a college bachelor's degree or higher. In addition, the variety of suppliers and vendors in the immediate area provide a central resource for hi-tech, biotech, software and aerospace companies and corporations. The vitality of Mission Viejo's diversified economic base provides a strong foundation for its retail enterprises. The recently renovated and expanded Shops at Mission Viejo, a major shopping destination for the region, contains a one million square foot enclosed shopping complex. Business owners are pleased when they learn that Mission Viejo is one of the few cities in California that does not require a business license fee. The 1999 Kosmont Cost of Doing Business Survey ranked Mission Viejo the second least-expensive city in which to do business in Southern California. Mission Viejo's robust and well-diversified revenue base is the foundation of its healthy economic environment.
Mission Viejo ranks high in every category, and education is no exception. Mission Viejo High School was selected as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2002 and a California Distinguished School for 2001. Schools receiving these honors are judged superior for "overall excellence." They have a strong foundation in academics and offer a variety of athletic activities, art programs, and a number of innovative courses for vocational/technical and special-needs students. The three districts, Saddleback Valley Unified, Capistrano Unified and Saddleback College, are composed of 27 elementary schools, four intermediate schools, four high schools and one community college. The area also offers 12 private schools. As a parent in Mission Viejo I appreciate having one of the finest educational systems in Orange County.
Mission Viejo is a world-class community by all definitions. Combining the finest of traditional American values with intelligent planning and technological advances of the 21th century, the City provides its residents with an incomparable quality of life. Mission Viejo's highly skilled labor force, support services, exceptional residential neighborhoods and well-diversified economy combine to create an outstanding community. The City invites newcomers to see for themselves why Mission Viejo is "one of the most successful American new towns ever realized."
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