There was a time when Runyon Canyon Park was primarily visited by locals, a real wilderness oasis within the hills overlooking Hollywood’s vibrant lights.
However in the previous few a long time, it’s turn out to be considered one of Los Angeles’ hottest climbing locations with an estimated 2 million guests a yr. And but, 1000’s of holiday makers every day haven’t any entry to a close-by toilet.
That’s set to quickly change.
Metropolis officers are within the technique of bringing a pre-fabricated restroom to the park, a virtually $1-million undertaking that ought to be full by subsequent summer season.
Whereas the undertaking was formally permitted final yr — after years of debate, surveys and public conferences — the deliberate toilet undertaking continues to attract concern from locals. In the previous few months, there’s been renewed criticism of the undertaking from Hollywood Hills’ residents, each due to its price ticket and doubtlessly detrimental repercussions.
A bunch referred to as the Runyon Canyon Guardians is now calling for officers to halt the lavatory undertaking, calling it “fiscally irresponsible” and a public security obstacle.
Anastasia Mann, president of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council, mentioned many residents who reside close to the undertaking location are involved that the everlasting restrooms will carry unwelcome smells, appeal to homeless individuals and additional enhance foot site visitors, which may elevate the chance of crime, fires — a latest difficulty within the park — and add extra environmental pressure throughout its 160 acres.
Locals have labored onerous to guard the park and maintain it from changing into too overrun and too commercialized, Mann mentioned, which is why so many have lengthy opposed bogs. For years, the neighborhood council would ballot members and located the overwhelming majority had been in opposition to including bogs.
“Principally, everyone supported no bogs for fairly a very long time,” Mann mentioned. However over time, she mentioned metropolis leaders pushed ahead the plan for restrooms — with quite a lot of outdoors help — approving the undertaking in December 2024.
And regardless of renewed opposition, town hasn’t wavered on its plan.
“The Division of Recreation and Parks has obtained requests for years from hikers and park guests for restrooms to be put in at Runyon Canyon Park,” a spokesperson for Mayor Karen Bass’ wrote in an announcement. “The Metropolis of Los Angeles is dedicated to making sure all of L.A.’s parks are secure, clear, accessible, and pleasurable for Angelenos and guests alike.”
Bass’ workplace identified that the undertaking was permitted by town’s Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners after vital group outreach and isn’t funded by the parks division’s common fund. The lavatory undertaking’s $961,125 finances is funded by park charges and deferred upkeep funds, in response to parks division information.
“Our workplace stays deeply dedicated to making sure the protection of Runyon Canyon Park and the neighborhoods that encompass it,” a spokesperson for Councilmember Nithya Raman mentioned in an announcement. Raman represents the group that features Runyon Canyon Park.
Adjustments to Runyon Canyon Park have lengthy drawn pushback from neighbors, sufficient in order that residents in 2016 halted building of a controversial basketball court docket within the park. The town additionally confronted appreciable backlash in 2006 whereas establishing the park’s first parking zone.
For some time, Mann mentioned concern across the toilet undertaking had pale, however the “hullabaloo” resurfaced because the undertaking began to maneuver ahead lately. A spokesperson for L.A. Parks didn’t reply to questions in regards to the undertaking timeline, however a metropolis official mentioned it have to be accomplished by subsequent summer season.
“Now they’re really beginning to do it, so the uproar has restarted,” Mann mentioned. “There’s a brand new marketing campaign in opposition to these bogs.”
She mentioned opponents are additionally upset that the brand new bogs received’t be constructed on the web site of exiting momentary bogs close to the Muholland Drive entrance however as an alternative can be close to the Fuller Avenue entrance. And because the metropolis faces vital budgetary shortfalls, the undertaking appears extreme, Mann mentioned.
“We’ve been working this park for a complete very long time with out bogs — is that this a serious finances merchandise we want proper now?” Mann mentioned.
However metropolis officers mentioned the funding is “time-limited,” primarily attributable to federal funding guidelines.
And given the extent of holiday makers on the park, it’s a wanted undertaking, mentioned Don Andres, the president of the Associates of Runyon Canyon Basis, which raises cash for the park.
“With that quantity of individuals, you want to have a restroom facility — if you happen to don’t, you understand what individuals will do,” Andres mentioned. “It’s about preserving the park and offering dignity for its customers.”
