“Invisible Neighbors” is the work of Studio Tutto, local artists Sofia Laçin and Hennessy Christophel, who transformed three blank walls into a semi-abstract homage to the Park’s plants and wildlife. FoGP sponsored the project that underwent nearly two years of approvals before the team began their work in spring, 2024.

Large crowds turned out to view the mural of flowing and twining plant life, discovering the hidden treasures including skunks, deer, praying mantises, and more. Smack dab in the middle panel, with white piercing eyes, is a depiction of the ghost cat himself, mountain lion P-22 who resided in this Park mainly undetected for more than 10 years. Adults and kids were delighted and mesmerized by the intricacies of the imagery.

In addition, a small native plant garden welcomed guests; a large plant spire was uncovered and the seeds inside will soon germinate. FoGP brought in native plant specialist Katherine Pakradouni to select and place plants that will augment yet not obscure the mural. This pollinator garden features a selection of sticky monkey flower, sage and blue-eyed grasses.

The plants have already been welcomed

While Laçin and Christophel were putting the finishing touches on the mural, a hummingbird approached their painted red fuchsia flower. Realizing it wasn’t the real thing, it buzzed off. ­­But once the garden was installed, the artists noticed a hummingbird sipping from the blooming fuchsia.

“I don’t know if it was the same one,” Laçin told the crowds at the celebration. “But I like to think it was the same one returning and drinking from the real thing.”

On the following day, PBS’s Jennifer Jewell, Cultivating Place podcast, interviewed the artists for a broadcast that will air later.

~Brenda Rees, FoGP Board Member

Friends of Griffith Park continues to initiate and promote projects that will enhance the visitor experience and those that support the Park’s wildlife and habitat

GRIFFITH PARK MERRY-GO-ROUND
As strange as it sounds, the privately-owned historic 1926 Stillman carousel sits inside a building owned by the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP). Due to co-owner Julio Gosdinski’s death at the age of 49 in 2020, his 50% ownership still rests in the hands of the probate court.

Even so, the beloved merry-go-round operated sporadically during the COVID-19 pandemic, until a very expensive mechanical repair shuttered this affordable, favorite attraction. Unfortunately, until there is a resolution in the court case, little can be done to address the mechanical problems and reopen the ride.

FoGP continues to see strong interest in keeping this rich piece of history alive in Griffith Park. To reiterate, FoGP is anxious to see RAP acquire ownership of the carousel and will help in this effort.

Parents of young children regularly reach out and ask us when it might reopen. Sadly, kids will miss another holiday season of riding this mighty four-abreast horse carousel. The ride was inspirational for Walt Disney, and has enthralled thousands of youngsters over the nearly nine decades it has resided in the Park. Julio’s smiling face and passion made it even more inviting in recent decades.

GRIFFITH PARK PONY RIDES
Another favorite and affordable Park attraction – the pony rides – was placed on hiatus in late 2022. RAP hired an outside consultant, PlaceWorks, to manage the controversy with the public about live animal rides. Public outreach for “Reimagining the Pony Rides Site” conducted by the consultant has ended, and their formal report was delivered to RAP Commissioners on September 16, 2024.

The report gives no answers. Instead, it exhibits loads of input collected from the public via various methods. The “statistically valid survey” is compelling and states that a fair representation of L.A.’s demographics indicate that 70% of the public favor pony rides being offered to children with only 16% opposed.

The report cites a variety of possible uses for the 3.5-acre venue, with or without pony rides being a part of the final choice. Seven case studies of activities within California, ranging from no-animal interaction to primarily animal interaction facilities, illustrate the possibilities for the site’s future. The case studies also explore business models, management structures, capital investment, and construction time for each option.

At the September Commission meeting, no deliberations occurred, although questions from L.A. Park Commission’s President Renata Simril were answered. One question was whether there was a “strategic plan” for Griffith Park, and the response was, “not at this time.” However, A Vision for Griffith Park which provides an important document to guide Griffith Park, was not part of the discussion.

It was made clear that a decision might be a combination of activities from the case models presented. No timeline was given for this important topic to return to the Commission for final decisions regarding the venue.

The complete report, as well as detailed information on the path of outreach along the way can be accessed online.

LOS ANGELES ZOO EXPANSION
Litigation filed jointly by Friends of Griffith Park and the Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust on September 13, 2023, has not yet been resolved. The deadline for the City Attorney to present the Administrative Record has been extended several times by the Court, due to its depth and considering the possibility of settlement.

The suit, based upon the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), targets the massive excavation of an unnatural 60-ft deep “man-made canyon,” an 18,000 sq. ft. visitor center on top of a high ridgeline, and the loss of native habitat containing rare and sensitive flora, along with 26 City-protected trees/shrubs.

ALCOHOL POLICY ADOPTED
FoGP remains concerned that in March of 2024, RAP expanded the opportunity for approved events to serve alcohol. In the adopted Revised Alcohol Policy, an “unlimited number of open area events” can be authorized by the RAP General Manager.

A second concern is that RAP expanded the currently-allowed beer and wine policy to include all liquor for these events.

We have suggested that Griffith Park’s “Wilderness Area,” which is delineated in the Historic-Cultural Monument documents, be precluded from potential “open area alcohol events” locations. FoGP has also reminded decision-makers that 800 acres burned in 2007, and an average of about a dozen reported fires per year are extinguished in Griffith Park. It has been shown repeatedly that alcohol is tied to carelessness and people falling asleep while smoking, contrary to the Park’s strict no smoking rules.

Loosening the Alcohol Policy is truly an environmental issue for Griffith Park with management’s extraordinary authority to permit alcohol in outdoor events. Currently, RAP struggles with budget reductions and insufficient staffing. We believe RAP is interested in having a standard policy throughout all its 450-plus properties and needs to raise revenue any way it can. However, standard policy does not fit the reality for Griffith Park or other regional parks in RAP’s holdings.

FERN DELL WROUGHT-IRON FENCE / PHASE 3
When FoGP completed the attractive, historically-accurate (1920s) pedestrian bridge in 2019, the rusty chain-linked fencing surrounding the bridge became a horrific eyesore in comparison. It was up to our organization to make improvements since stretched-thin City dollars were unavailable.

Through fund-matching with generous donors, especially nearby residents, FoGP was able to complete the first two sections during 2020 and 2021. Our goal now – to encircle the entire area from the north side of the new bridge to the south to create a large loop with two gates that are secured at night.

The contractor FoGP used for Phases 1 and 2 did superb work. This year, while committed to Phase 3, the final and longest stretch, we en- countered a series of “red tape” bumps – even though we had already secured funding for the project completion! Fortunately, persistence paid off and we were able to work out issues over the course of several months.

We hope all Park visitors will enjoy this new section along the 200-ft long pathway that connects lower and upper Fern Dell, east of the bridges. Now, instead of dilapidated chain-link fence, you’ll find a more attractive, friendlier wrought-iron fence. Matching funds from our close partner, the Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust, made this project possible.

ORIGINAL TILE ROOF RETURNS TO THE FERN DELL COMFORT STATION
Some may think a restroom could not possibly be considered a historic feature, however; Fern Dell’s 1926-era “comfort station” is something everyone can embrace!

Constructed in the Spanish Colonial style, this structure boasted period-defining details that have been lost over the decades. Ironically, shortly after the Park’s designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2009, the terracotta tiled roof was replaced with asphalt shingles while our attention was elsewhere.

With approvals by the L.A.’s Department of Recreation and Parks, FoGP has been allowed to restore the roof back to its historic look. Our chosen contractor, Roof Repair Specialists, did a fantastic job. We hope you agree!

Although the vertical, lathed wood spindles were another striking and distinct detail of the original comfort station, FoGP was not permitted to incorporate them at this time. Eventually, we hope to reincorporate them, at least, in the openings above the doors.

MEASURE W PROJECT / FERN DELL
Our largest potential project of all involves flowing water in Fern Dell. Engineering consultant Craftwater, Inc., continues the Feasibility Study for the Fern Dell Rehabilitation and Stormwater Capture Project. The one-year study grant was awarded through the County’s Safe, Clean Water Program.

Recently FoGP learned that the County will postpone the annual “call for projects.” As a result, this Feasibility Study Phase will continue for another year, but has been elevated to a higher level of design, 30% rather than 10%. Additional program funding of roughly $40,000 will allow Craftwater to further develop conceptual and technical scopes. Even though this project will be delayed a year, we remain optimistic it will be elevated to full Design Phase.

Our vision for this project – to rehabilitate Fern Dell and improve the water quality that’s being discharged from the area and eventually flows into Ballona Creek. Stormwater capture and diversion from the existing City storm drain system, along with water storage and reuse are high priority goals.

Recirculation of stored water to the upper Fern Dell streambed, most often bone dry, is another goal that will benefit visitors’ experience, as well as tree and habitat health.

There are many possibilities for Fern Dell: an enhanced parking lot with a permeable surface, appropriate landscaping, historic trail restoration, and the gift of a renewed irrigation system.

~Gerry Hans, FoGP president

Looking at a Southern California Automobile Club map of the Los Angeles Freeway system from a few years back, it’s easy to see how freeways have affected the Los Angeles community, and not in a good way. Granted – these roads have made our commute faster – or have they? Getting from the valley to downtown has, for many, become a traffic nightmare so drivers looking for alternative routes, sometimes race through Griffith Park. With a fair number of commuters using these Park roadways, officials have been forced to close roads which – while angering some – has had a beneficial effect. Vehicle-caused wildlife deaths have been reduced, and Park users are now able to safely recreate.

But let’s step back for a moment to a much earlier time
­
In 1896, when Col. Griffith donated land for what was to become Griffith Park, the Los Angeles population hovered at around 75,000. The original gift consisted of 3,051 acres of parkland, and was situated approximately 5 miles north of downtown, a fairly long journey by buggy or horseback. While many officials scoffed at the notion that this parcel would eventually become the shining gem of the expanding city, Griffith’s vision of the future was spectacularly prescient.

But there was one huge flaw – the massive traffic congestion we’ve come to associate with living in the city. Very quickly, as the city grew, L.A. came knocking at the borders of Griffith Park. By 1920, according to one L.A. census, the population had grown to 500,000 and by 1940 the population again swelled to several million. Griffith’s gift became a necessary respite from the craziness of city living although it was becoming clear that area roadways were inadequate for traffic. Something needed to be done.

Enter the state

Beginning in the mid-1930s California recognized the rapid growth of communities throughout the state, especially in-and-around Los Angeles. Wartime manufacturing plants had created a need for housing – and roadways – which was compounded once wartime veterans returned to the area. Ultimately the Golden State Freeway (I-5) was conceived – a route that would tie the northern portion of the state to the southern point, and supposedly alleviate some of the growing pains in Los Angeles.

As work progressed well into the 1950s, the new roadway arrived at the northernmost edge of Griffith Park where it proceeded to split the parkland into two sides (the L.A. River also acted as a barrier). Slicing the Park created huge problems as area residents including the Los Feliz Improvement Association, the L.A. Parks Commission, L.A. Mayor Norris Poulson, and Griffith’s son Van (Griffith J. Griffith had died in July, 1919) were vehemently opposed. Earlier, Mayor Poulson had proposed an alternative route to the east of the river – through Glendale. According to Paul Haddad’s book, Freewaytopia, Poulson referred to the alternative route as “dumps, cow pastures, and vacant land” which would be more appropriate to freeway construction. Mike Eberts’ Griffith Park: A Centennial History also discusses the standoff: Recreation and Parks General Manager, George Hjelte had voiced concerns about the route, albeit late in the game. L.A. Councilman Ernest E. Debs then pushed back against his objections stating Hjelte was for the project before he was against it. Hjelte shot back, suggesting the full scope of the project had not been forthcoming at the time he voiced approval in 1947.

In the end, 200 acres of prime Parkland were destroyed to construct the freeway through the park – land that at one time, housed baseball diamonds, a pony track, model airplane runway, miniature railroad, archery range and more, according to Freewaytopia. Another wrench was tossed into the mix, courtesy of L.A. City Attorney Roger Arneberg who voiced concerns about a potential lawsuit from Van Griffith* which might have brought construction to a halt. Arneberg’s concerns were alleviated when Griffith filed suit against the state. Unfortunately for Griffith, Superior Court Judge A. Curtis Smith concluded the state trumps all (including Parklands). However, the state of California did pick up costs for shifting some of the recreational facilities to other areas, adding further encroachment into the Park.

Griffith Park was again trimmed with construction of the 134 freeway which connected the 101 freeway to Pasadena. This portion of the Ventura Freeway clipped the upper part of Griffith Park, separating the space occupied by the Ferraro Soccer Fields from the area where the L.A. Zoo and Autry Museum are situated. Again, this state-sponsored construction was created in order to alleviate traffic flowing west. Unfortunately it’s done little to make life better for most drivers.

Today, Griffith Park is a fragmented Park with snippets of land detached from the Mother Plot. The area along Riverside Drive adjacent to Los Feliz Boulevard constitutes one such snippet. And there are others – Bette Davis Park and the Equestrian Center on the Burbank side of the Park, Pollywog Park, the Maintenance Yard and a small 9-hole golf course – both in Atwater Village.

Looking toward the future, we’re facing more crossroads

No longer are Angelenos able to jump on a freeway and travel to downtown in 15 minutes or less – an argument used in the ongoing discussion for the Golden State Freeway construction. It’s time to recognize these roadways act as concrete barriers to wildlife making crossings from Griffith Park into other areas extremely unsafe. Now that the Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is well underway (construction is slated to be completed in 2025), it’s time to consider more crossing bridges, or tunnels leading from the easternmost edge of the Santa Monica Mountains – which is Griffith Park – to other green spaces like the Verdugo Mountains and the Angeles National Forest, currently blocked by freeways and residential zones.

*Van Griffith’s lawsuit against California hinged on the original gift language which stipulated that the Parkland would revert to the family if Griffith Park was used for anything other than recreation­.

~Kathryn Louyse, FoGP Board Member

2024 CONTINUING EDUCATION APPLICATION

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is a very important plant for the overall healthy habitat of Griffith Park. The plant is commonly seen growing wild throughout the Santa Monica Mountains range — and it’s found throughout Griffith Park.

Many people know the plant by the common name of “Holly Berry” because the leaves and the red fruit that mature during the fall are reminiscent of the European Holly. The name Hollywoodland, which later became Hollywood, was given to this area of Griffith Park by early settlers who saw the green plant with red berries growing profusely on the surrounding hills.

Throughout the year, toyon offers many important benefits to wildlife that live in Griffith Park. Since toyon can grow to be a large shrub or a small tree, the plant provides a protected area from animals such as coyotes to roost or build homes safe from ground predators.

Field observations in the summer find toyon plants in full bloom. The plant produces a large amount of small white blossoms that offer food and drink to insects such as butterflies, bees and beetles during the hot summer days. The plants’ survival relies on the insects: insects visit the blossoms looking for nectar, and carry away pollen which is distributed to other toyon plants and thus producing fruits.

During the fall season, after several months of growing and maturity, toyon fruits change color from green to red; it’s a signal to birds and other larger animals that a meal is ready for them. It is also during the fall that the hills of Griffith Park are adorned with striking red colors reflecting the many toyon plants growing in the hills of the Park.

Toyon fruit looks like a tiny apple with many small seeds. Griffith Park wildlife eat the entire fruit. Once consumed, the fruit is digested and the intestinal track extracts the calories and nutrients from the fruit’s fleshy portions. Seeds safely go through the animal’s intestinal track and will later be dropped elsewhere in the Park where they can germinate, grow and become a new toyon plant.

Because toyon is one of the few plants that ripen its fruits during the fall, when many of the other plants are barely waking up, having a healthy population of toyon to sustain wildlife is vital for the ecosystem of the Park.

~Jorge Ochoa is an associate professor of horticulture at Long Beach City College.
He often leads FoGP walks through Griffith Park and occasional lectures on fauna found throughout the Park.

UPDATE: AUGUST 3, 2023

Now that the Los Angeles Zoo Vision Plan has been approved at City Council, FoGP is considering options. We greatly appreciate all those who attended/spoke at meetings, or submitted comments to the Council File. We continue to take the position the Zoo seems to ignore — that the Zoo resides in Griffith Park — not the other way around.

Thank you to all who received our eblasts, and reached out to ask about next steps. Moving forward, we will continue to alert our membership and the community regarding decisions made in coordination with other environmental organizations.

Agenda item 21-0828 CD-4
for LA City Council / Wed., Aug. 2, 2023

REVISED FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR), ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS, STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS, and MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM (MMP); NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the certification of the Revised FInal EIR and Project approval for the Los Angeles Zoo Vision Plan.

Recommendations for Council action:
1 CERTIFY that the Revised Final EIR was completed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act; that the Revised Final EIR was presented to the Council, as the decision-making body of the City; that the Council reviewed and considered the information contained in the Revised Final EIR; and, that the Revised Final EIR reflects and expresses the City’s independent judgment and analysis.
2 ADOPT the Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations detailed in the June 8, 2023, Zoo report, attached to the Council file.
3 ADOPT the MMP, detailed in the June 8, 2023, Zoo report, attached to the Council file.
4 SPECIFY that the documents constituting the record of proceedings in this matter are at the Office of the City Clerk, 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, California 90012; in the files of the Zoo Department (Zoo) located at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027 and at the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, 1169 South Broadway, Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90015; and any other relevant City department.
5 APPROVE the Project as described as Alternative 1.5: The California Focused Conservation Alternative in the Revised Final EIR and the 2022 Los Angeles Zoo Draft Plan: Alternative 1.5, attached to the Council file.
6 DIRECT the Zoo, and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, in consultation with Council District 4, to establish a formal Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) monitoring process within 90 days. This formal process should cover all phases of the Vision Plan, and should outline achieving the aspiration of a 15 percent reduction in VMT’s and targets for modeshare split.

Fiscal Impact Statement: The Zoo Department reports that approval and certification of the Vision Plan, and Revised Final EIR, do not have a direct fiscal impact as there is no obligation of funding. Implementation of early phases will facilitate increased attendance and revenue, ensuring a financially sustaining operating model for the Zoo into the future.

Community Impact Statement: Yes
Against unless Amended:
Los Feliz Neighborhood Council
Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council
Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Hollywood United Neighborhood Council

For if Amended:
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Palms Neighborhood Council
Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council

For Current Plan:
Pico Union Neighborhood Council
Against:
Silver Lake Neighborhood Council

Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Council Committee Meeting — June 28th, 2023

In late June, Alternative 1.5 was moved forward by the Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Council Committee. Full Council sign-off is the next final step. The Committee’s approval with only two Council Members presiding seemed preordained. During just the week prior to the hearing, nearly 350 comments were submitted into the Council File in opposition to Alternative 1.5, as written. A Sierra Club petition tallied another 300-plus in opposition. Comments added in support were a mere handful. There was no mention of this intense level of public opposition at the meeting. Instead, the hearing was a victory lap with lavish accolades for people responsible for the Zoo Vision Plan.

As several have wondered… Was the public even heard?

Those unable to attend or are interested in hearing this meeting are encouraged to tune in to the full audio HERE.

As the newest iteration of the Los Angeles Zoo expansion is being dissembled to the public, Friends of Griffith Park would like to clarify some points.

Friends of Griffith Park has been incredibly involved in analyzing and providing thoughtful feedback at each stage of the LA Zoo’s Vision Plan EIR process to date. We are now being presented with a new Alternative 1.5, as articulated by the Focused, Recirculated EIR (FREIR). FoGP is encouraged to see a number of major changes to this new plan and feel that it is significantly better than the Proposed Project. Notably the recognition that the presence of native species in the Africa Area merits conserving and protecting this hillside against future development. Unfortunately, we can still NOT support this Alternative 1.5 as it has been presented.

Sadly, this new Alternative 1.5 plan still includes the proposed, massive development of the California Area, which encompasses a currently undeveloped, largely native habitat. Beyond just developing this hillside, the prospect of a massive excavation project to create “Condor Canyon” would have an everlasting and unnecessary impact on Griffith Park. We have provided a detailed letter of feedback directly to the FREIR team and would encourage you to read it for more granular details about how we arrived at our conclusion regarding Alt. 1.5.

Per Leon Boroditsky, RAP Forestry Division
“There were 56 tree-related emergencies from January through April of this year in the Park;
43 trees were down or removed; 10 were limbs down, and 3 were hanging limbs.
There’s an active hawk’s nest in Mineral Wells, and RAP is waiting until the hatchlings fledge and our wildlife biologist gives the green light before maintenance can go back in and work. RAP will attempt to save the downed live oak.
Additionally, golf courses were extensively damaged : there were 61 storm-related emergencies on Griffith Park golf courses: with 40 trees removed or down, but still alive, two hanging limbs and 19 down limbs. We were able to save a few of the down oak trees.
There were also down trees along trails and while some were removed, some were pushed over the edge to become homes for wildlife.”

The past winter saw an unprecedented level of destruction from downed trees to water and debris not seen in decades flowing down canyons and overflowing catch basins. And while L.A. Park Maintenance was quickly dispatched to address problems presented by unrooted trees and collapsing branches, they were dealing with massive numbers thanks to Mother Nature, and were hard-pressed to keep up with the level of damage.

According to information obtained from Leon Boroditsky with LA RAP’s Forestry Division, 2023 saw a number of situations in the Park, from broken tree limbs to down trees (see sidebar). Many of these trees are ending up as mulch for future Park projects and the facility on Griffith Park is being kept busy these days.

~Kathryn Louyse, FoGP board member

photos: top left: a sycamore had fallen just missing the pedestrian bridge in lower Fern Dell. This past July, the roots are still evident although the tree is gone.
center, left: Behind one of the Ranger buildings, several trees collapsed across one of the hiking trails.
center/right: A huge Live oak fell near the Griffith Park Pony Ride.
lower left: Many of the down trees were hauled off to the mulching area in Griffith Park.
lower right: Mineral Wells saw many downed trees.

The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round has been a part of Angelenos’ lives for 88 years. Children have gravitated toward the happy, upbeat music from its Stinson Military Band Organ with smiles and laughter.

Some horses date back to 1895. The carved and painted horses each have their own personality. “Devil” is a black horse with one leg sticking out in back as if he is going to kick you. “Hannibal” has a stubby unicorn horn guarding his head. “Isolde,” carved by renowned carver Charles Looff, is a dappled beauty with flowers in her reins. A pure white stallion, “Arthur” boasts the profile of a lion above his foreleg. Adults who used to ride the Merry-Go-Round when they were kids are now having just as much fun riding horses with their grandchildren.

The status of the Merry-Go-Round is currently in limbo (read Park Status, page 5), but first let’s spin back in time for some Merry-go Round reminiscences and notable events.

Retired Park Ranger Bill Eckert shared fond memories of riding the Merry-Go-Round in the 1950s and 60s in The Griffith Park Quarterly, May, 1982:

I used to come to the Merry-Go-Round when you could jump on the outside row and reach out for a ring that was placed in a long chute frame alongside the Merry-Go-Round. Then if you got a lead ring you threw it into a canvas basket. Once in a while I would be lucky and pick a gold ring that would be placed among the lead rings, about every 12 or 20 rings apart. If you obtained a gold ring in those days you could have another ride free just by turning it in to the box office or by giving it to the ticket taker.

The Merry-Go-Round was a favorite with my children. We’d go to the park for a day’s outing in the early 1960’s to enjoy a ride and listen to the Wurlitzer organ music.

As years went by, the price of tickets to ride on the Merry-Go-Round went up. After 1951 the fare went up to a quarter. Now with inflation, the same ride is 50 cents. Where else for so little money can you come to relax on a grassy lawn, have your picnic lunch, listen to the carousel music, have your children or grandchildren ride the colorful Merry-Go-Round or roll down the grassy slopes around it? This is but one of many types of amusements and recreation that Griffith Park has to offer residents or visitors that visit the park year-round.

The 1960s were challenging times for the Merry-Go-Round and Park Center

On Memorial Day, 1961 a group of Black youth jumped on and off the ride without paying, and, taking a cue from the Civil Rights protests of the time, called themselves “Freedom Riders.” Bystanders came to their defense. The owner called the police. Chief William Parker was known for being antagonistic toward the Black community. Responding officers used racial slurs which exacerbated the situation rather than calming things down. The Park was forced to close and it took 75 officers to quell the race riots.

Throughout the 1960s, Flower Children would frequently gather around the Merry-Go-Round for Love-Ins where they painted their bodies with flowers, drank alcoholic beverages and used drugs. Some interior Merry-Go-Round paintings were vandalized. The Flower Children caused other problems for Park Rangers; for a while families did not feel safe bringing their children to the Merry-Go-Round.

Not all large gatherings near the Merry-Go-Round were contentious. In 1980, about 500 fans gathered peacefully in Park Center for a tribute to John Lennon the day after he was killed in New York. The event was organized by radio rock station KROQ.

Families returned to the Park in great numbers. Little Annie Jewell in her red Santa outfit rode a shiny black jumper horse with her mother Lynne in 1988.

A match made in heaven

Julio Gosdinski emigrated from Peru to the United States when he was 12 years old. While at John Marshall High School, he started working at the Merry-Go-Round on weekends which would become his life’s calling. A true kid at heart, Gosdinski loved the Merry-Go-Round and made sure all riders enjoyed it as much as he did.

For years, the arrangement was beneficial. Gosdinski was raised by his single mother, while Merry-Go-Round owner Warren Deasy never had a son. It was a match made in heaven. Deasy appreciated Gosdinski’s love of the Merry-Go-Round, the way he engaged with guests, and his sense of humor. Deasy frequently commented that Gosdinski was the son he never had.

When Deasy died in 2011, Gosdinski was surprised to learn he had left him half ownership of the Merry-Go-Round. The other half is owned by Deasy’s ex-wife Rosemary West. West maintained the horses and Merry-Go-Round while Gosdinski sold tickets, ran the machinery, selected the music, and interacted with the public practically every day. You couldn’t miss his brilliant blue eyes and his irrepressible grin. He knew everyone. He was so proud that his Merry-Go-Round was one of the oldest, largest, and fastest at 14 miles per hour.

Another fan of the Merry-Go-Round was Chuck Simpson’s grandmother Jessie. In her honor, 44 family members and friends paid for the restoration of one horse. They threw a big party on-site on February 16, 1986 to celebrate the return of the shiny horse to Griffith Park. Named for Grandma Simpson, “Jessie” is a brown and white horse with a huge red bow around her neck.

Merry-Go-Round owner Rosemary West described the event to Simpson:

It was wonderful of your family to not only do such an amazing thing for us but to do such a joyous event for your family’s matriarch. Jessie, the horse, has been our ambassador to many events from being on exhibit at a local bank, to being featured in a magazine, which is where the 3 horse picture is from. The other 3 photos are from when we were painting her. The drawing I did of her is on the cover of our coloring book.

The sign for her at the Merry-Go-Round has just the part of the photo that shows the real Jessie and says: “JESSIE”

With fond memories and LOVE The Simpson Family and Friends have supported the restoration of this carousel horse in honor of their Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and friend Jessie Gates Simpson.

What is the future of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round?

Julio Gosdinski died unexpectedly in 2020; he was 49 years young and had no will. The Probate Court is in the process of determining what will happen to Gosdinski’s half of the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. A determination may be made soon. Friends of Griffith Park is monitoring the situation.

The Department of Recreation and Parks, Friends of Griffith Park, and a plethora of parents want the Merry-Go-Round to continue to operate in Griffith Park. It is one of the few inexpensive activities for children available in the Park — and it brings such joy and memories for generations.

Currently, this ride is closed due to broken parts in the mechanism that operates the Merry-Go-Round.

We anxiously await its reopening and the chance once again to ride up and down and to hear the magnificent music streaming from its booming interior organ.

~Marian Dodge, FoGP board member

For another take from Atlas Obscura… https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/walt-disneys-bench

The Bird Sanctuary missed out on volunteer efforts for several years due to Covid restrictions so Friends of Griffith Park decided it was high time to revisit this space and place more natives in the ground while at the same time, conduct some well-deserved TLC. This beautiful garden became our Earth Day project for 2023.

After several logistical meetings with RAP to ensure the area was cleared of dirt piles and ready to go, FoGP’s Volunteer Coordinator Ross Arnold and I walked the site to identify areas to prep for the Earth Day event. During the long wet winter, numerous rainstorms had drenched the Sanctuary, and there had been an explosion of growth — weeds were everywhere and fallen tree limbs clogged stream beds.
But students from the Zoo Magnet persevered and by the end of Friday, the island and stream beds were looking quite impressive — cleared and ready for planting!

On Saturday, April 22, a very large group of volunteers went right to work, digging holes — after a short how-to-plant intro by FoGP’s Laura Howe — and placing plants. While some folks continued to weed the area, some helped place mulch around the new growths. After the day ended, Ross and I took some time to water the entire planting area to make sure these new plants had an opportunity to thrive.t

We’re always looking for volunteers or organizations who have an interest in helping to make Griffith Park a place of respite. Let us know more about you!

~ Kathryn Louyse, FoGP board member

“Some things never change,” as they say. In Griffith Park, often that’s a very good thing.

Two important Griffith Park amenities have been shuttered, at least, temporarily. Both represent the most historic and inexpensive of all Park attractions for children: the Pony Rides and the Merry-Go-Round. How unfortunate that these facilities are both non-operational at the same time. These two venues attract young families from far-reaching and underserved communities. They are both “magnets” that bring kids to the Park where they are then, intentionally or not, introduced to its nature. So what’s going on? Each has its separate story:

Griffith Park Pony Rides — Closing the Pony Rides came as a shock to most, despite the regular protests by animal rights activists which expended far too much Park Ranger energy to keep the peace there. Three days before Christmas, the Pony Rides closed, on short notice by RAP General Manager Jimmy Kim. The most unfortunate aspect of this decision — there was no public outreach or discussion on the merits of not renewing this concession agreement.

The cancellation leaves the future of the Pony Rides venue, established in 1947, in limbo. RAP has called for the venue to be reimagined. But what does this mean? RAP is considering the possibility that an outside consultant be tasked to make recommendations, while Griffith Park Advisory Board (GPAB) has assembled an ad hoc to also provide solutions. Wow, this all could take a while! In the meantime, FoGP is concerned this area could remain empty, if not blighted, for years.

Our position has been made clear: “FoGP supports a commitment to continued use of this historic venue for the purpose for which it was built, pony rides, introducing children to animals and the equestrian world. Going forward, this could be achieved with a higher degree of sensitivity to animal care. This could become the compromise that benefits and satisfies all.” FoGP’s position is supported in this 4-page letter.

Fortunately, both RAP and CD 4 have gone on record saying the future of the venue does not preclude ponies or pony rides, but that it would be at a different standard to square previous concerns raised. The Cultural Heritage Commission added its support saying that the Pony Rides is a “legacy use” venue within their purview.

Merry-Go-Round — As strange as it sounds, RAP owns the building housing the carousel, but not the 1926 Spillman carousel itself. The carousel has an impressive pedigree as one of the largest made by the prestigious Spillman manufacturer, with four horses abreast for a total of 68 horses plus two chariots.

Fifty-percent owner, Julio Gosdinski, passed away unexpectedly in August 2020. He had become a co-owner in 2011 and was a reason families visited the Merry-Go-Round. Julio loved children and they loved him; he worked the ride since he was a teenager.

Currently, the partial ownership remains in the hands of probate court. FoGP is anxious to see what will transpire and has successfully encouraged the City to become a party of interest.

While the Merry-Go-Round operated for some time after Julio’s death and after COVID restrictions were relaxed, an expensive repair has forced its closure. There is an outpouring of assistance offered by people and organizations, including FoGP, to get this cherished venue re-opened. Sadly, until there is a resolution to its ownership, there will likely not be a commitment to keeping it in operating condition. The City is not in the driver’s seat without ownership, and currently does not even have in-force concession arrangement.

“You don’t know what you got “til it’s gone” is an understatement, considering the strong reaction and public cries to rescue both these affordable and historic jewels for families from across the City.

~Gerry Hans, FoGP President