Griffith Park: Historical Monument?

The LA Times reports today on Griffith Van Griffith—the great-grandson of the man who donated the land for Griffith Park to the city. Aside from having a great name, Griffith also has a sound social conscious, and considers himself and his family as stewards for the park’s well-being. That’s why he’s headed to City Hall today to lobby for the green space to be designated as a historic-cultural monument, which would give it protection against future development. As the Times reports:

At 4,218 acres, Griffith Park would be the largest such monument in the country. Griffith said the designation is needed to prevent commercial developments similar to those briefly proposed by city officials in a 2005 master plan.

That plan, which cost the city $400,000, included aerial trams, parking structures and revenue-generators, including restaurants and lodging, to the horror of some Griffith Park boosters. The city soon scrapped it.

But Griffith’s proposal has its skeptics, including City Council member Tom LaBonge—who is known as a big supporter of the park. LaBonge fears the designation will interfere with his own hopes for infrastructure upgrades someday in the future when the city actually has cash for such things:

“This is a park, not a preserve,” said LaBonge, who sports a well-worn white Dodgers sweat shirt and totes a football when he hikes the park’s Charlie Turner Trail nearly every day at sunrise.

“I’m all for designation of buildings and spots of significance in the park, but right here?” LaBonge asked, circling his finger over the dirt trail path one Friday morning, “Would it be something to designate? I’m not sure.”

The article also has a great photo gallery of the park and the Griffith family. Worth checking out.