Imagine a hike through scenic Griffith Park: great California weather, fantastic views of the city, and… a giant metal pillar? Cables, stretching across the sky?
Possible aerial tramway routes are currently being assessed across the park, as well as plans for a visitor’s center, and a viewing platform near the Hollywood sign. Mayor Garcetti has shown public support for the project, despite backlash from various groups such as Friends of Griffith Park and the North Hollywood Zoo Magnet Center, the latter of which was offered as a start site for one of the tram routes despite not being consulted on the project.
Each of the routes would stretch roughly 2.5 miles, requiring 19 to 24 towers placed throughout the park. The construction would mean the protracted closures of the park’s trails and other popular attractions. The tramway itself would threaten the habitats of many plants and animals, alter wildlife behavior and biodiversity, and undermine the founding spirit of the park as a touchpoint of rest and recreation for the community at large.
The Santa Monica Mountains Task Force stands with those opposing this project, including the Sierra Club LA Central group who are calling for concerned Angelenos to voice their opposition to the tramway. One simple action you can take right now to help keep Griffith Park wild is to sign their petition and share it with your friends.
You can also make an impact by emailing, calling, and putting pressure on local politicians to heighten their awareness of the problems this project will create.
We ourselves issued a letter to Mayor Garcetti on September 20th, clarifying the Task Force’s opposition to the aerial tram.
