Trail Entrance Leading To Hollywood Sign To Reopen Monday Amid Neighbor Concerns

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — City Recreation and Parks officials announced Saturday that an entrance to a trail within Griffith Park will reopen to pedestrians on Monday..

Many residents and tourists take to the park to enjoy hiking, horseback riding, and take in the beautiful scenery from the observatory.

The Beachwood Canyon trail entrance, however, was closed in March 2014 after residents complained of constant congestion from cars that were driving up residential roads to access the trail.

On Monday, officials explained the entrance will reopen, giving pedestrians access to see the sign from the path during park hours, from 5:00 a.m. to sunset each day.

According to authorities, a new electric gate was installed in the area in an effort to limit car traffic traveling up the trail.

Entrance to the Beachwood Canyon trail will give access to those driving to the Sunset Ranch Horse Stables.

Parking may be available around the canyon for those hiking, however, rules that apply on weekends and holidays may limit space, officials reported.

The trail that begins at the Griffith Observatory also leads to the Hollywood Sign, which authorities encouraged hikers to remain using as an alternative to the Beachwood Canyon entrance.

KCAL9's Laurie Perez on Saturday spoke to Beachwood Canyon residents who weren't entirely on board with the reopening.

Tourists come to see the sign from all over the world.

"We are from Buenos Aires," said one man.

"I'm coming from San Francisco," said another visitor.

"They come by the thousands, by the thousands walking six abreast they take every parking space to the point where you couldn't get a fire truck in,"
said Findlay Bunting.

The city is also going to encourage visitors to see the sign from different vantage points.

Homeowner Omid Naim is all for it.

"I was thinking how wonderful it would be to have a tram that came from like Mid-City up to the Griffith Park Observatory, why can't we have those kinds of creative things where it's really a dynamic city?"

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