Cultural Heritage Commission
approves Griffith Park Preservation
Thursday, October 30, 2008,  A special meeting of the city's Cultural Heritage Commission, attended by over 100 supporters of declaring Griffith Park a city Historic-Cultural Monument, saw the outcome they had worked for. After more than two hours of  consideration of the issue the Commission voted  3-1 to include all of Griffith Park in its recommendation to the City Council that the park receive historic-cultural monument status.

The crowd of more that 125 were heartened when Councilmember Tom LaBonge finally declared, "I'm happy to support full consideration of this nomination." He went on to say that "all items in the future will be done with oversight." And urged the crowd "that all this energy should go forward to enhance Griffith Park."   More than 58 public comment speaker cards were submitted by supporters including GGPNC President Philip Gasteier, who characterized the designation as "pure positive" and thanked the Neighborhood Council Coalition and dozens of groups who supported the nomination. GGPNC Historic Preservation Committee chair Ken Owen, and Park's Committee chair Bernadette Soter stressed that even those elements of the park designated as "non contributing" in an historic sense should still be of concern to the commission in protecting the park in the future.


Councilmember Labonge (l) and GGPNC representatives Gasteier & Owen (r) thanked the public at the SRO commission hearing.
Representatives of the DWP, and the Autry National Center were among those who raised questions about the impact of the designation on their operations within the park. And much of the debate among the commissioners before voting centered on issues relating the how the Office of Historic Resources would handle future requests by the City and others for changes in the park, especially in such areas as Toyon Canyon, a now recovering former landfill, which while a non-contributing element at this time should have future oversight to make sure its use is consistent with the Historic nature of the park.

The designation now moves on to the City Council where it will likely be a matter of months before the final vote is taken.
A big thanks to all those who took the time to come down to city hall or write the Commission and Councilmember to urge support. Your voices made the difference...a big difference.
CHC Meeting Excerpt Video - LaBonge/GGPNC/Debate & Vote - runs 22:46


To learn more about the wealth of historically significant elements of the park that would be protected use the links below:
Cultural Heritage Commission Recommendation letter to City Council - 14 pages
The full Historic-Cultural Monument Application -  350 pages
Initial staff report for the Cultural Heritage Commission - 7 pages
Cultural Heritage Commision Meeting audio recording - 8/21/08
Final Staff report for Cultural Heritage Commission - Oct. 2008 - 12 pages
Already over 40 civic and environmental groups have publicly expressed their support for protecting the whole park. Click here for the list.
The LA Conservancy Strongly Supports the Designation
Valley Vote Press Release in Support - 11/13/08
The Sunday, Sept 28th LA Times had an interesting article on the subject.


The future of Griffith Park is in your hands
The City Council still has to approve
show your support on the form below

1. Please leave your comments, suggestions, or recommendations. THANKS!

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ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT FOR APPLICATION    As of 10/27/08
These organizations are on record as supporting designation:
The L.A. Conservancy
(Largest membership-based local historic preservation organization in the country)

The Sierra Club
    (Angeles Chapter -- 50,000 members in L.A. and Orange Counties)

The Federation of Hillside and Canyon Associations
    (36 residential associations from Glassell Park to Pacific Palisades)

Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Coalition - LANCC
(Over 40 certified Neighborhood Councils from Valley, Westside, Harbor, Northeast and Southeast regions of Los Angeles)

The City Project
(Non-profit advocacy group focused on the equitable creation/expansion of parks providing urban children with safe places to play)

HPOZ Alliance of Los Angeles
    (A coalition of Los Angeles’ 22 designated historic districts)

San Fernando Valley Historical Society

Highland Park Heritage Trust

Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council

Hollywood United Neighborhood Council

Atwater Village Neighborhood Council

Greater Cypress Park Neighborhood Council

Silver Lake Neighborhood Council

Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council

East Hollywood Neighborhood Council

Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council

Foothills Trails District Neighborhood Council

Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council

Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council 

Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council

Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council

Griffith Park Draft Master Plan Working Group

Los Feliz Improvement Association

Oaks Homeowners Association

Franklin Hills Residents Association

Los Feliz Estates Owners Association

Hollywoodland Homeowners Association

Beachwood Canyon Association

Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance

Barnsdall Neighborhood Association

Pacific Palisades Residents Association

Granada Hills Old Homeowners Association

North Valley Coalition

Los Feliz Businesss Improvement District

Friends of Atwater Village

Saving L.A. Project  (S.L.A.P.)

Friends of O’Melveny Park

Equestrian Trails Inc (National) and ETI Corral 38, Griffith Park

Los Angeles Hiking Meetup Group

Los Feliz Flyers Running Club

Wild Mountain Runners

Recreation and Equestrian Coalition, Agoura Hills (REC)

WIlmington Historical Society

Banning Park HPOZ

The Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association
Suggested letters or emails
Please also send a copy to GGPNC@GGPNC.org
To: Councilmember Tom LaBonge
City Hall, room 480
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Example A:
    I strongly support the designation of the whole of Griffith Park as an historic cultural monument. I hope that you agree and will support it as well.

Example B:
    I use Griffith Park on a regular basis. I know you do so as well.

    Please join me and my friends in supporting the designation of all of Griffith Park as an historic-cultural monument of our City. Griffith Park deserves the designation, and hopefully it will preserve the park for our children and grandchildren without urbanization, of which we have too much now.

Example C:
    I understand that you have questions about designating the entire Griffith Park as an historic cultural monument. Please think big. Protect the park and all of the park. I know your heart is in the right place, but prove it by supporting the Griffith family’s application.

 		To: Cultural Heritage Commission
City Hall, room 620
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Example A:
I support the designation of the entire Griffith Park, not simply Col Griffith's original donation but every part of the current park regardless of how the land was obtained by the City.
 

Example B:
 I support the designation of the entire Griffith Park. I do not support the separation of structures from the park land, whether wilderness or planted, as this defeats the purpose of preserving the park as an open space for all the people.
 


Example C:
 I support the designation of the entire Griffith Park. I do not believe City agencies ought to be allowed to freely despoil the park with dumping and storage facilities, and I am hopeful that designation of the entire park will prevent this in the future.