News & Updates
A Micro-forest for Griffith Park
Thanks to support from the Hancock Park Garden Club, the Bette Davis Picnic Area of Griffith Park is becoming home to a new native Micro-Forest as part of the...
A Green Ring for Los Angeles
Sometimes moving forward requires a long look back and deciding whether the path we’re on is the best path for the future. When Spanish colonists first...
An Appreciation of P-22
Ten years ago in 2012, when mountain lion P-22 was discovered haunting the hills of Griffith Park, this wasn’t just another example of nature seeping through...
The Role Park Rangers Play in City Parklands
To understand the role played by Park Rangers over time in Griffith Park, I turned to Mike Eberts’ Griffith Park: A Centennial History. I learned that long...
Toyon: Griffith Park Lost and Found
Motorists on the 134 freeway have seen the oddly-terraced hillside that is in Griffith Park, but does not appear to be part of it. Hikers, runners and...
A Brief History of the Failed Griffith Park Master Plan(s)
Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States — larger than the City of Beverly Hills. Yet, with 2022 about to begin, there is no...
The LA Zoo Vision Plan
A multi-level parking structure for 2,000 vehicles, three visitor centers featuring sit-down dining, a California vineyard, an aerial tram, a funicular, and a...
The Soroptimist Connection in Fern Dell
Enter Fern Dell from Los Feliz Boulevard and walk up the far right side of the path heading to the Observatory; here you will discover a picnic area perched...
Winter/Spring Griffith Reporter 2022
Read or download the Winter/Spring 2022 edition of the Griffith Reporter. DOWNLOAD
The Storied History of Travel Town
There are many terrific venues in Griffith Park and exhibits within venues. Travel Town is a perfect example; it’s a must-visit attraction, especially if you...
Scholarships Available for the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards
For the second year, Friends of Griffith Park will offer scholarships to local students going on to higher educational prospects in environmental studies. In...
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...
