DEPARTMENT OF

CITY PLANNING

OFFICE OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 221 N. FIGUEROA STREET, SUITE 1350 LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-2639

CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION

BARRY A. MILOFSKY

PRESIDENT

GAIL M. KENNARD

VICE PRESIDENT

RICHARD BARRON

PILAR BUELNA

DIANE KANNER

COMMISSION OFFICE

(213) 978-1300

March 16, 2023

City of Los Angeles CALIFORNIA  

KAREN BASS

MAYOR

EXECUTIVE OFFICES 200 N. SPRING STREET, ROOM 525 LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-4801 (213) 978-1271

VINCENT P. BERTONI, AICP DIRECTOR

SHANA M.M. BONSTIN

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

ARTHI L. VARMA, AICP

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

LISA M. WEBBER, AICP

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Mr. Jimmy Kim, General Manager

Department of Recreation and Parks

221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 350

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Mr. Kim:

On behalf of the City’s Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC), I am extending thanks to the  Department of Recreation and Parks' (RAP) for their January 19, 2023 presentation to the CHC  regarding the Griffith Park Pony Ride. While the Commission recognizes that RAP and the Board of  Recreation and Park Commissioners continue to consider options for this portion of Griffith Park, the  City’s Administrative Code requires the CHC to take all steps necessary to preserve Historic-Cultural  Monuments (HCM). As such, in an effort to work together and find common ground, the CHC would  like to engage in the process of determining the future of this important site.  

Griffith Park may be the largest locally-designated landmark in the United States. As City of Los  Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #942, it is defined by buildings, natural features, and  landscapes that each have individual significance, but at the same, these elements contribute  collectively to the significance of the 4,218-acre park. These remarkable character-defining features  include an extensive array of historic resources, from the Griffith Observatory to the Merry-Go

Round, from the Wilson and Harding Golf Clubhouse to the Bird Sanctuary, and from the Greek  Theatre to the Old Zoo structures.

The Pony Ride, dating originally from 1947, was specifically identified as one of the contributing  elements when the Park was designated as an HCM in 2009. The prominent features of the Pony  Ride were noted as:

• Square plan waiting area canopy

• Oval riding track with wood plank fencing

• Square plan, one-and-a-half story barn style ticket kiosk

Like many others, the CHC was surprised to learn in December 2022 that the Pony Ride would  cease operation. For over 75 years, the Pony Ride has been among the most beloved features of  the Park as it has attracted multiple generations of families as well as countless numbers of visitors  to Griffith Park. It was considered a legacy use in the Park. The significance of this Park feature  derives not only from its physical improvements, but also from the more intangible components of  its heritage—the activities, traditions, and people that have given life and meaning to this  legacy. Public testimony at the January 19 CHC meeting reinforced how the Pony Ride served the  function of a legacy use within the Park.  

The CHC knows that a concession involving ponies and other uses continue to be considered by  RAP. It is the CHC’s position that the Pony Ride has been a long-standing Griffith Park legacy  attraction and use, and an integral character-defining feature of the HCM.  

As RAP moves forward, I ask that you invite the CHC to participate in developing a future Request  for Proposals, as well as in inter-departmental consultations, and the decision-making process. The  CHC also requests that public input be sought as we work together to ensure the preservation of the  character-defining features of the Pony Ride.  

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Barry Milofsky

President, Cultural Heritage Commission

cc: Office of Mayor Karen Bass

Nithya Raman, Councilmember District Four

 Stefanie Smith, Superintendent, Griffith Park