Tales From the City (Griffith Park)

This was taken on the day of the fire from my house in Echo Park at 3 p.m.



This was taken the same day at 8:15 p.m.


The fire in Griffith Park that started two days ago was quite scary and saddening. I have the fondest memories of outings in that park from my childhood. I recall the many family picnics and barbecues my sisters and I experienced there growig up. I remember the visits to the zoo and the L.A. Observatory we used to take with our mom and other relatives. Last year, some twenty-plus years later, I frequented Griffth Park at least half a dozen times with my now adult sisters and the new additions to our family --my niece and my nephew. We enjoyed the children's train ride, watch Victoria go on the pony rides, and rode the historic merry-go-round (which my friend Julio runs) many times. We also had new picnics, and revisited the zoo to see the little ones marvel at the animals.

There are so many more memories from my 27 years as an Angeleno: Hikes, birthday parties and barbecues, drives, playing Hide-n-Seek in Travel Town and in the old zoo, bike riding, getting drunk and high with friends as a teenager in the park, concerts at the Greek and the Gene Autry Museum. Endless memories... Also the park is practically in the backyard of the Atwater Village school I teach in. I see the park's hillside everyday! As I write this, I hear that the fire is almost 100% extinguished. Let's hope that the city and its citizens can easily restore that 1/5 of the park that was destroyed.