Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the Department of Recreation and Parks announced last week that Runyon Canyon Park will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 2, following a water mainline replacement project that was completed under budget.

(photo by Gregory Cornfield)

“After much needed public safety and infrastructure upgrades, the city of Los Angeles is thrilled to reopen one of the city’s most highly used and beloved parks,” Ryu said. “Thanks to the hard work of LADWP, a 90-year-old water pipeline has been replaced and new fire hydrants added, which are crucial to the fire protection of the park, park-goers and nearby residents. We worked closely with the Department of Recreation and Parks and LADWP to shorten the time of the overall project. LADWP finished under budget by $1 million dollars – that is a huge saving for ratepayers, and the Department of Recreation and Parks was able to add other important upgrades like erosion control and water fountains.”

Runyon Canyon Park was closed in April for the Runyon Canyon Water System Improvement Project which replaced approximately one mile of six-inch pipe that runs through the park.

The project was undertaken to improve the area’s fire protection system, reduce the risk of pipe breaks and improve local water quality.

Construction for the project included the excavation of a trench along the fire road trail, installation of the new pipeline and backfilling of the trench. The new mainline will benefit LADWP customers by significantly reducing ongoing maintenance and repair costs attributable to leaks and breaks from the 90-year-old pipe it replaces.

“Runyon Canyon Park is a local treasure used by Angelenos and visitors alike,” said LADWP senior assistant general manager Martin Adams said, “The full closure was a temporary inconvenience, but one that will allow us to preserve this L.A. icon as a safe and enjoyable hiking and recreation destination for years to come.”