AIDS Walk Los Angeles, which for the past 14 years has brought thousands of people to West Hollywood each October, is moving to Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles.

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), which organizes the 10K walk, is in the process of mapping the route walkers will take through downtown. Craig Miller, founder and senior organizer of AIDS Walk Los Angeles, said Grand Park provides a larger space to hold opening and closing ceremonies for the walk, and will enable APLA to hold concerts and other related events. Miller added that a Metro subway station serves the park. Another concern was that West Hollywood Park, where the walk’s opening and closing ceremonies were held, will be under construction through 2018 as part of a revitalization project.

“We are very excited about the move to Grand Park,” Miller said. “All of downtown Los Angeles has been so revitalized, it’s so vibrant and exciting, and we are confident it will have a great and refreshing effect. There will be more space and more access to mass transit. There is also the ability to have a more wide range of entertainment, including musical bands. In West Hollywood, there tends to be concern about some celebrities and bands and how large a crowd they might attract.”

Miller added that the move from West Hollywood is bittersweet, as the city has hosted the event since 2001. Miller founded the walk in 1985 and the ceremonies were initially held at Paramount Pictures Studios on Melrose Avenue. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Paramount Pictures Studios went “into lockdown mode,” Miller said, forcing organizers to find a new location in a hurry.

“The city really came to our rescue after the tragedy of Sept. 11. The walk was in October, so we had to act quickly,” Miller added. “The heroic way the leadership of West Hollywood at the time rose to the occasion and welcomed us to West Hollywood, that’s something we are going to appreciate for the rest of our lives.”

Miller added that the event’s roots in West Hollywood are so important that plans are being considered to have shuttles running between West Hollywood and Grand Park on the day of the walk – Oct. 23.

“You can take AIDS Walk Los Angeles out of West Hollywood, but you can’t take West Hollywood out of AIDS Walk Los Angeles,” Miller said.

AIDS Walk Los Angeles is moving this October to Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles after being held in West Hollywood for the past 14 years. (photo by Leif Green)

West Hollywood Councilman John Duran said while he is disappointed AIDS Walk Los Angeles is moving, he understands the reasoning. Approximately 20,000 people participate in the walk annually.

“AIDS Walk has always been very important to the community,” Duran said. “I understand it was a business decision. I don’t take it as a slight. The construction of West Hollywood Park in the coming years is going to impact a lot of events in West Hollywood – AIDS Walk, the Christopher Street West festival. Although it is going to be a challenge for these organizations, eventually we will be able to accommodate some of these events.”

West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister also said she wishes APLA success at the new venue.

“We understand the decision to move,” Meister said. “APLA needs to do what’s right for the event.”

AIDS Walk Los Angeles raises funding for APLA programs, including a food pantry, medical and dental care, and HIV prevention programs. APLA serves approximately 14,000 people each year throughout Los Angeles County. AIDS Walk raised $2.4 million for services last year. Since 1985, it has generated more than $82 million.