A 4,200-acre expanse in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles easily qualifies as one of America's best-known urban parks, especially given its many appearances in popular television programs and Hollywood movies. Home to attractions that include an observatory, zoo, golf courses, an outdoor amphitheater, and hiking and horseback trails, Griffith Park is a sweeping urban retreat rightly considered a Los Angeles gem.
Originally an ostrich farm started by Griffith J. Griffith in 1882 on ranch property nestled at the eastern end of the Santa Monica mountain range, today's Griffith Park bears little resemblance to this now distant ancestor. Before his death, Griffith, a Los Angeles property developer, set the stage for today's Park by a generous donation of most of the Park's current acreage, along with a trust fund to be used for developing the site. Other donations and the purchase of additional land by the City of Los Angeles have made the Park what it is today.
First-time visitors to the Park are often amazed by how familiar many of the Park's features seem. Probably the best example is Griffith Observatory. Perched high atop the south slope of Mount Hollywood, the Observatory offers a commanding view not only of the stars high over L.A., but also of the entire Los Angeles basin, including downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and somewhat farther afield, the Pacific Ocean itself.
The Observatory's pristine location has resulted in a number of noteworthy, if uncredited, appearances for this L.A. landmark in both movies and television. Readers old enough to remember the James Dean classic, Rebel Without A Cause, will instantly recognize the Observatory as a backdrop for much of the film. Other movie credits include The Terminator, The Rocketeer, Bowfinger, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and Transformers. Star Trek enthusiasts will also remember the Observatory from a two-part Star Trek: Voyager episode called "Future's End".
While this writer is partial to the Observatory because of frequent childhood visits to its planetarium, stargazing is by no means the only attraction at Griffith Park. The Park is also home to the Los Angeles Zoo, frequent outdoor concerts held at the park's Greek amphitheater, and the Museum of the American West. Two 18-hole golf courses, a baseball field, basketball and tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool and miles of footpaths and horse trails make the Park a favorite destination for the residents of America's second largest city.
A so-called Master Plan for the future development of Griffith Park is currently under development by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. The plan, which calls for additional commercialization of the Park, is opposed by groups like Save Griffith Park, a cooperative effort supported by the Los Feliz Improvement Association, the Sierra Club, the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, the Oaks Homeowners Association, Equestrian Trails, Inc., and troubled residents of Los Angeles.
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Matt Paolini is a senior researcher for CityBook, the family-safe Los Angeles yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory on Los Angeles clubs parks.
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