Southern Sierran
Griffith Park: Now a Historic-Cultural Monument

By Joe Young & Carol Henning

The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, along with all Los Angeles residents, can celebrate. On January 27, the Los Angeles City Council voted 15-0 to approve Historic-Cultural Monument status for Griffith Park. Several members of the Griffith Park Task Force were present to applaud the decision and to thank the Griffith family, represented by "Van" Griffith who spearheaded the defense of his great-grandfather's gift to Los Angeles—the largest private land gift the city has ever received. Griffith Park is an urban wilderness replete with biological, historic and cultural treasures, and its landmark status will provide a layer of protection for these treasures.

The proposal had earlier been endorsed by the Cultural Heritage Commission and the Planning and Land Use Management Committee of the City Council. Park advocates were busy writing letters and speaking at hearings at every step in the process.

Although this is a significant victory for the Sierra Club and all defenders of open space, we all must remain vigilant to make sure Griffith Park's monument status is not undermined. Certain Park entities, the Autry Center, the zoo and the Toyon landfill, are not covered by the monument designation's protective cloak. Moreover, Forest lawn Hollywood Hills is embarking on a 40-year Master Plan to develop the balance of its site as cemetery property. This land abuts Griffith Park. As Forest Lawn becomes less forest and more lawn, and as it adds new structures and interment sites, adverse impacts on the Park's recreational viewsheds, natural watersheds, biological resources and wildlife corridors may result. The cumulative impact of three closely adjacent expansion developments—Forest Lawn, Oakwood and Universal—all of which contain naturally forested areas must be considered and monitored.

Let us celebrate; then, let us get back to work.

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