GRIFFITH PARK—Griffith Park Tea House, a public art project that was built over an unused concrete foundation on the park’s Mount Bell, was recently donated to the city of Los Angeles by the anonymous artists’ collective that built it.
The donation was made about two weeks ago. Rose Watson, LA’s Recreation and Parks Public Information Director, told LAist that the fate of the tea house is yet to be decided, but it definitely won’t be destroyed, because of the public’s positive reaction to it. The date to remove the tea house has not been set, despite concerns that this would be its final week in existence due to its temporary permit expiring on July 26.
More than 3,900 people signed a Change.org petition asking the city to keep the Griffith Park Tea House standing. Although the tea house may not stay at its current location in Griffith Park, it may be moved to a different park or travel between parks in the district.
The Recreation and Parks Department are concerned about leaving the tea house in its current location because of the precedent it would set for future illegal art projects in Griffith Park—others might attempt to skirt around the permitting process if they see that it’s possible to get away with it.
The Griffith Park Tea House opened on June 30. It was built overnight without permission from the parks district.
