News & Updates
Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Griffith Park
On Saturday, November 13, 2021 volunteer educators from the LA Conservancy joined 30 different partnering organizations spread throughout Griffith Park to...
LA Zoo Expansion is Taking Shape
Did you know the massive Los Angeles Zoo Project is nearing completion of it’s final stages before receiving LA City Council’s approval? Don't worry, few...
Coexisting With Film Crews in Griffith Park
Rebel Without a Cause, La La Land, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Batman TV show — what do they all have in common? Our beloved Griffith Park....
Griffith Park Aerial Tram – Not Out of the Woods!
On November 9, 2019, a brush fire broke out at Forest Lawn Drive and Barham Boulevard, near Warner Bros. Burbank Studios. It consumed 80 acres of...
Raptor Volunteers Keep Their Eyes on the Prize
Armed with binoculars, perhaps a clip board and eyes that are continually scanning, Friends of Griffith Park Raptor Survey Volunteers are the backbone...
Underground Griffith Park: Holes as Homes
PHOTOS: top left: Desert cottontail “apartment” (approx. 10"). top right: Tarantula abode (1 1/2" diameter). bottom left: Harvester ants exit the one inch...
The Infamous Detention Facility in Griffith Park
Over the years Griffith Park has responded to urgent national and local housing needs. During the Great Depression the Park housed CCC camps to give jobs and...
A Force of Nature
A conversation between FoGP board member Dora Herrera and National Wildlife Federation Director Beth Pratt Beth Pratt, the unstoppable force leading...
Honoring Ranger Albert Torres
On June 16, 2021, a plaque was unveiled at the Griffith Park Ranger Station, honoring one of LA’s beloved Park Rangers – Albert Torres. On this warm June day,...
Species of Concern: Miguel Ordeñana Discusses Griffith Park Bats
The last in the series on our Species of Special Concern highlighted the different species of bats found in and around Griffith Park, and Miguel is now...
Species of Concern: Chris DeMarco’s Discussion of the Western Gray Squirrel
At one time, the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) ruled the roost, so to speak. That was, until the early part of the 20th century when the...
Species of Concern: Recap of Sarah Wenner’s Talk on Horned Lizards
Blainsville’s horned lizard... so unobtrusive on the landscape, it could easily be overlooked, unless one is actively looking. Even then, since these lizard...
The Fifth Year Griffith Park Raptor Study Begins to Take Flight
Today, Saturday, Feb. 20 marked the opening of the 2021 Raptor Study with a Zoom training session featuring study coordinators Courtney McCammon and Dr. Dan...
Currently Under Discussion: Zoo Expansion in Griffith Park
The Los Angeles Zoo has formally proposed a Vision Plan with concepts for further expansion and development. It’s really important to get all the facts of how...
The Next Generation of Environmental Stewards – Update
The first two recipients have received their scholarships and we all look forward to seeing their accomplishments in the future. Congratulations...
Griffith Park Aerial Tram: Another Bright Idea?
Aerial trams in Griffith Park have been on the drawing board many times in the past, most recently in 1960, 1968, and 2005. Each time, the public was outraged...
Eager to Volunteer Again
For the last three years, Friends of Griffith Park volunteers have undertaken a massive effort to place more plantings in the Park using, wherever possible...
Update: Bluebird Nesting Boxes
Earlier this year, FoGP member Bruce Painter again placed homemade nesting boxes in Griffith Park with the hopes of attracting the colorful Western bluebird,...
Expanding Griffith Park
This spring, Griffith Park got a little bigger, thanks to a coalition of partners who worked quickly and effectively together to respond to a rare...
Save California’s Bees: All 1,600 species
We’ve all heard the popular slogan, “Save the Bees!” Responsible for essential pollination services in the ecosystem, bees are key contributors to the...
Quite the Quail
The ground-dwelling California quail (Callipepla californica) is often heard, but seldom seen in Griffith Park. They are famous for their unique “Chicago”...
Encouraging Kestrels with Nesting Boxes
American Kestrels, the smallest of falcons in North America, are beautiful creatures and amazing hunters. Their preferred meals range from insects to...
What’s the Future for the Griffith Park Merry-go-Round?
When CoVID-19 forced a shutdown of all venues in Griffith Park – including the Autry, LA Zoo, Griffith Observatory, Greek Theatre, etc. – I contacted Julio...
At Long Last: Passage of AB 1788, the California Ecosystems Protection Act
The long struggle to reduce the use of second generation rodenticides in California reached its final chapter as Gov. Newsom signed AB 1788 on September 29,...
Park Profile: Meet Stefanie Smith
Recently I sat down to chat with Stefanie Smith, the newly appointed Superintendent of Griffith Park. We began our conversation with her introduction to LA’s...
Repairing and Restoring Fern Dell
If Griffith Park is the crown jewel of the city, then Fern Dell must be one of its brightest emeralds. One of the most popular areas of the Park, it is one of...
A Bird-Friendly Landscape, A Human Refuge
Restoring Griffith Park’s Bird Sanctuary My first visit to the Griffith Park Bird Sanctuary was almost a decade ago. I had just retired from the stress of...
A Look Back at Pioneering Park Rangers
Have you ever studied the ceramic mural in the courtyard of the Visitor Center? The mural, designed and created by ceramic artist Elaine Katzer in 1987, gives...
Keepers of the Flame: The Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust
Visionary Stocking Stuffer Griffith Park was born on December 16, 1896, when Colonel Griffith J. Griffith donated 3,015 of his Rancho Los Feliz acres...
2021 Raptor Survey Gears Up
The Fifth Annual Raptor Study is gearing up and volunteers are being notified. This citizen science-driven survey sponsored by the Friends of Griffith Park...
Winter/Spring 2021 Griffith Reporter
Read or download the Winter/Spring 2021 edition of the Griffith Reporter. DOWNLOAD
Bird Sanctuary Planting from Jan., 2020
Before Covid-19 put a damper on volunteer efforts, we worked to restore an area of Griffith Park – the Bird Sanctuary. Hopefully Gary Regester’s video is a...
Join FoGP for a Very Virtual P-22 Day!
This ANNUAL P-22 Day celebrating Griffith Park’s resident mountain lion will be a virtual event due to Covid-19 Sat., Oct 24, 2020 • Festivities will still...
FoGP’s Questionaire Submitted to CD 4 Candidates
Friends of Griffith Park reached out to both Council District 4 candidates, Nithya Raman and incumbent David Ryu, asking four questions on a variety of...
Address Griffith Park – Recording of Mike Ebert’s Lecture
On Thursday, Sept. 17th, Griffith Park’s renowned historian Mike Eberts gave a fascinating lecture on the Rodger Young Village and how this concept has...
Griffith Park’s Aerial Tram: History Repeats
FOGP Official Opposition Letter FoGP would like the public to weigh in on the aerial tram before Oct. 12… Please note: there was a link to Stantac’s Survey so...
2020 Raptor Study Results are now Online
On Sept. 2nd, Dan Cooper and Courtney McCammon will be presenting the results from the 2020 Raptor Survey. Covid 19 saw some remarkable occurrences, thanks to...
The 2020 Raptor Survey
Sign up today for the Raptor Study Results ZOOM meeting... go to 2020 Raptor Study Final Results via ZOOM (calendar) and hit "Yes" under RSVP. If you spot a...
The Unlearned Lessons of DDT and What We Can Do
It’s time to share some good news (for a change) as AB 1788 Passes both houses of the CA Legislature! With less than two hours to go on the last night of...
Growing Griffith Park, One Conservation Opportunity at a Time
Two Griffith Park-adjacent parcels acquired for conservation: 2630 & 2700 Canyon Drive More GOOD NEWS UPDATE [5/15/2020]: Success in our endeavors with...
