River Park takes step forward in approval process

By Jay Kandavel and Saisha Kumar

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff dismissed nonprofit organization Save Weddington’s claims that the Weddington Golf and Tennis property should be designated a Historic-Cultural Monument, President Rick Commons said in an email May 10. Studio City will hold public meetings to discuss the approval of the River Park project starting June 7, according to Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Ari Engelberg.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to reconsider whether Weddington Golf and Tennis should be designated a Historic-Cultural Monument because of the golf course after Save Weddington advocated against River Park on Sept. 29, 2021, according to President Rick Commons. Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff denied Save Wedding- to take the final steps toward constructing the River Park campus. The school plans to replace the golf course and tennis courts with various sports facilities and a public walking path.

Engelberg said he disagrees with Save Weddington’s claims that Weddington Golf and Tennis is a Historic-Cultural Monument.

“The entire property is not a historical-cultural monument,” Engelberg said. “While the clubhouse building, putting green and golf ball-shaped floodlights are architecturally significant, there is nothing particularly culturally or historically significant about the golf course or driving range itself. Everything has a history, but having a history doesn’t make something historically significant.”

Engelberg said the school understands the sensitivity surrounding the renovation, but thinks River Park will benefit the community.

“The school understands that some members of the community are opposed to River Park,” En- change is not always easy and that the property holds sentimental value to some residents of Studio City. But, we also know that progress can be a good thing, and we’re certain that the River Park campus will be a huge win for Studio City as well as for Harvard-Westlake.”

Engelberg said River Park will have a positive impact on various aspects of the community.

“Studio City will benefit from River Park in many ways, from public open space to walking trails to access to recreation and athletic facilities,” Engelberg said. “River Park will also improve access to the LA River itself, will restore native habitat and will be far better for the environment than the golf course is.”

Commons said he understands Save Weddington’s claims but believes their demands are unreasonable.

“Opponents are people who simply don’t want the current situation to change,” Commons said. “I don’t think it’s reasonable for people to expect that we would purchase the golf course driving range, tennis courts and leave it exactly as is. There are some who are concerned about the volume of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian traffic that will come to the site, and I understand that, you know, we’re a busy place. It’s going to be a busy and exciting place for Harvard-Westlake to use between 3 and 6 p.m. on weekday afternoons and some periods on weekends.”

Commons said the impact River Park will have on the community is beneficial enough to continue with the construction.

“[The complaints] will be far outweighed when the communities experienced the many hours when we’re not using the site, that it will be open and available to the community,” Commons said. “I hope to make that clear to the decision makers that this is going to be a resource that goes far beyond what it currently is in terms of what the community can enjoy.”

Samuel Skulsky ’24 said that while he enjoys using the current Weddington amenities, he sees some advantages to River Park.

“I personally would prefer [River Park] to stay as the old Weddington because I use the golf facilities somewhat regularly,” Skulsky said. “But I think [River Park] will be good for bringing the community together and allowing for more outside of school or outside of campus events.”

Skulsky said he can see the rationale behind Save Weddington but thinks their claims can seem exaggerated at times.

“I think that [Save Weddington] may be making the River Park project seem like a more extreme detriment to the Studio City community than it probably is, but I can understand how they treat Weddington as a historic site in the city,” Skulsky said.