HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The Hollyridge Trailhead was closed on March 25 to build new barriers that will hopefully prevent unauthorized overnight access to the Hollywood Sign.
That area near Beachwood Drive will be closed for the next five weeks while the Department of Recreation and Parks spends their time constructing the new barrier. Once completed, visitors will again be able to visit the sign – but only between the hours of dawn and dusk, Councilman Tom LaBonge told the Los Angeles Times.
Councilman LaBonge introduced a motion on January 28 that instructed several departments, including the LAPD and LAFD, to provide a thorough assessment of the area; he cited traffic concerns and a number of complaints from locals about the chaos brought by curious tourists.
Canyon News reached out to Superintendent of Griffith Park Joe Salacies for comment, but did not hear back before print.
A March 20 letter from General Manager of the Department of Transportation Jon Kirk Mukri to the Los Angeles City Council suggested that the city post new signage in the area east of Beachwood Drive—roughly between Ledgewood and Hollyridge Drives—that would discourage people from parking along the area leading up to the trail and forewarn them that their vehicles could be towed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for the entirety of the week.
Mukri also suggested that a dirt parking lot (currently sitting north of the end of Beachwood Drive) be restricted to parking for stable – which would be enforced by placing an electric gate operated by the stables.
A follw-up letter from the Fire Department agreed with the aforementioned solutions, noting that the actions recommended—particularly the new signage—would likely provide immediate results.
“The Departments will continue to study the situation and make further recommendations and reports as warranted,” Mukri said in his letter.
