Residents in El Sereno on Saturday will have access to a new public trail at Elephant Hill, along with expanded protected open space in the Los Angeles neighborhood.
The project, led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority in partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the community group Save Elephant Hill, includes a new 0.75-mile trail and the acquisition of additional parcels of land for public use, officials said.
Funded in part by a $700,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, the improvements are aimed at increasing access to nature in a neighborhood long considered to be lacking in park resources.
“The new Elephant Hill Open Space trail is the first official trail specifically for public use on Elephant Hill in El Sereno,” Elva Yanez, board president of Save Elephant Hill, said in a statement. “While the public has informally accessed the 10 acres of parkland managed by the MRCA for generations, hiking, birding, and nature exploration will now be safer and more enjoyable.”
Officials said the project also helped secure additional parcels of land, expanding protected open space and preserving native habitat in the area.
Elephant Hill spans a patchwork of privately owned parcels, and agencies are continuing efforts to acquire more land for conservation.
The trail, which winds across steep terrain using switchbacks and drainage features, was developed over several years with community input and constructed by the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, officials said.
Additional funding is supporting increased ranger patrols, signage and infrastructure improvements to address safety concerns and protect the site’s natural resources, according to officials.
Community leaders said the project represents a broader effort to ensure equitable access to open space across Los Angeles County while preserving environmentally sensitive land.
The space is located at 4403 Pueblo Ave. and will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.