Griffith Park monument status takes step forward

Griffith Park moved one step closer this afternoon to becoming a cultural-historic monument. With a unanimous vote from the Los Angeles City Council’s planning committee, the application moves to the full council for a final vote Jan. 27.

At 4,218 acres, Griffith Park is the nation’s largest urban park. Supporters of landmark status for the park say the designation is necessary to prevent commercial developments similar to those briefly proposed by city officials in a 2005 master plan. If the designation is made, major changes or developments in the park would be subject to review by the city Cultural Heritage Commission.

Griffith Van Griffith, whose great-grandfather gave the park to the city in 1896, came today from Morro Bay with his son Trevor to encourage a "yes" vote by the committee.

“Keep the lungs of the city intact,” said Griffith, who applied for the park’s landmark status last summer. “Leave it as it is for the people in the city.”

--Joanna Lin

Photo credit: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times