FAQs

The Preserve is located in Crown Valley Park at 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, midway between the I-5 freeway and Pacific Coast Highway.  Entrances to the Preserve are located just above the outdoor amphitheater.

The Preserve is open to the public, free of charge.  Individuals who wish to support the Preserve may become members of our non-profit organization. For more information, please visit our Membership page .

The Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

Dogs are welcome at the Preserve.  As required by law, please keep them on a leash and pick up their waste. For the safety of your dog (rattlesnakes are sometimes seen in the gardens) and the health of our plants, please stay on designated trails.

• The Preserve cannot be reserved. 
• Weddings, elopements or private events of any kind are not allowed.
• Gatherings of any kind with 10 or more people are not allowed.
• Gathering of less than 10 people (such as proposals) are only permitted when adhering to these rules:
  • Ensure no disruption to other visitors’ experience
  • No usage of props, sets, or extensive equipment
  • Restricted to public operating hours
  • Follow photography requirements (below)
  • Adhere to boundaries: Stay on trails or hardscape areas, avoid plant/flower beds, and do not move existing items

• • • Photography is welcomed, adhering to these rules:

      • Personal photography is allowed without a permit, subject to the following:

        • Ensure no disruption to other visitors’ experience.

        • No use of props, sets or extensive equipment.

        • Photography is restricted to public operating hours.

        • Photographers must adhere to boundaries: Stay on trails or hardscape areas, avoid plant/flower beds, and do not move existing items.

• • • Professional photographers must obtain a permit from the City of Laguna Niguel.

      • A professional photographer is anyone who engages in the activity of taking photographs or producing images for gain or livelihood. Contact the Administrative Secretary at Crown Valley Park at (949) 425-5100 for more information. Click here for permit

    • Professional photographers must adhere to same rules and boundaries: Stay on trails or hardscape areas, no use of props, sets or extensive equipment. Avoid standing or walking in plant/flower beds. Moving existing signs, sandbags, and other equipment is prohibited. Photography is restricted to public operating hours. 

• Annual guided walking or golf cart tours are available for members and up to three of their guests.
• Self-guided tours are available during all operating hours. Our garden map (click here) will make your tour more enjoyable.  These maps are also available at some entrances and at our informational kiosk at the top of the grass amphitheater.

Visitors may park in the free parking area located adjacent to the Crown Valley Park Community Center building, pool and playground.

The Board of Directors is comprised of nine (9) members who are elected by the membership. Directors serve for a period of three (3) years.

Monty McDivitt
President

I grew up on a farm in the Midwest and I missed the simpler times working outside.  Volunteering reminds me of the seasons farmers live by… my farm roots give me the background to plan months and years ahead, keeping my eye on long-term goals. The Preserve is a work in progress, and I am glad to be part of the team guiding it into the future.

Monty is the 2017 Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year.

Pam Lawrence
Vice President/Treasurer

The Niguel Botanical Preserve is a very special place in a community filled with many beautiful parks and open spaces.  I have lived in Laguna Niguel since 1987, and it has been such a pleasure to watch the Preserve grow and thrive.  I grew up in Southern California and really appreciate a place that provides such a great example of beautiful water-saving plant materials that flourish in our climate.

I served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Laguna Niguel for 27 years and was proud to oversee the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.  After my retirement, I wanted to become involved in some meaningful volunteer work.  I was excited to become part of the team that continues to nurture this incredible gem of the community and to plan for its future.

Karin Campbell
Vice President of Fundraising and Membership

I started off volunteering in the Preserve as a Girl Scout in the Tree Grove and over the years I’ve expanded my volunteering to multiple areas throughout the Preserve. I love the walks with my family, dogs and friends. Being a Midwest Girl, I really enjoy seeing the beautiful changes through the seasons. I’m thrilled to be a part of the board who continues to keep the Preserve thriving and ever changing. It’s a very special place for many and I’m proud to help keep it this way. 

Kaitei Hoffman
Vice President of Social Media

Being a resident of Laguna Niguel for over 10 years, the Preserve is a special place within our community. I have spent many hours observing nature and the diverse wildlife that call the Preserve home. I started volunteering on the weekends and my passion for all things small, especially our pollinators, keep me coming back to this neighborhood gem. I’m proud to be a member of the board and enjoy working with our neighborhood volunteers to keep the Niguel Botanical Preserve thriving for many years to come.

Linda Purrington
Secretary

I have always loved the outdoors. Growing up in a small town in the Pacific Northwest, the forest was my backyard and playground. I remember towering pine trees, wildflowers, ferns, sedges, berries and lichen. Later in life, I lived in a picturesque desert community in Arizona with grand Saguaros, Prickly Pears, Paloverdes trees, and Manzanitas. For the past 45 years, Laguna Niguel has been my home, and I have enjoyed the great diversity of plants that thrive in our Southern California coastal community. I have watched the Preserve grow and evolve over time to include the diverse geographical regions, gardens, installations, and trails we enjoy today. My husband and I enjoyed participating in NBP volunteer activities over the years and appreciated the significant efforts and accomplishments of the Board and the wonderful grounds crew. I am honored to now serve as a board member and look forward to being a part of the NBP’s future.

Peter Evans
Director

It seems that I’m always taking a class, seminar, or workshop on something plant-related. There is so much to know about the natural world and new research is always revealing more.

Peter is the former Director of Horticulture at California Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA. He holds a contractor’s license in landscape design, has a Horticulture Degree from Cal Poly Pomona, and studied Landscape Architecture at UCI. He designed, installed, and maintained the California Native Garden within the Preserve.

John Ulrich
Director

When I came upon Niguel Botanical Preserve one day, the best-kept secret and “hidden gem” in our city, I became interested in the workings of the organization. As I got to know the committed board members and volunteers that make the Preserve so special, I became even more interested. Given the chance to contribute to the success of the Preserve, I took it and look forward to the future as we make Niguel Botanical Preserve the best it can be for years to come.

John is the 2018 Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year.

Tom Sales
Director

I came to know the Niguel Botanical Preserve through the Boy Scouts and Dennis Mulvaney, who started the Trail to Eagle.  Working on Eagle Projects and work days dating back to the year 2001, I have loved being a part of the Preserve, Laguna Niguel’s “Hidden Gem”. 

Alexis Gawronski
Director

I have always felt connected to nature. It brings me so much joy to garden and see the plants respond to the care we give them. Volunteering at Niguel Botanical Preserve allows me to share this joy with the community.
I graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor’s in Biology. While working at the local nursery Plant Depot, I have continued my education by becoming an ISA Certified Arborist and California Certified Nursery Professional.

Advisors

• Jeff Kirby

Jeff Kirby, Recreation Supervisor, is the liaison to the Preserve from the City of Laguna Niguel. He can be reached at jkirby@cityoflagunaniguel.org or at (949) 425-5100

• Pierre Charles-Alernini

Pierre Charles-Alernini is a graduate of St. Germain-en-Laye West in Paris, France, with a TBA in Landscape Design and Architecture. He is a licensed General Contractor and a former member of the Niguel Botanical Preserve Board of Directors. He serves as the Preserve’s landscape maintenance contractor and provides a wealth of knowledge and technical expertise.