Construction of a basketball court that residents in a Hollywood hillside community have filed a lawsuit over has come to a standstill, Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu said on Thursday.
The move comes after residents near the popular hiking trail Runyon Canyon filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging city officials failed to properly notify the surrounding community about the impacts of construction they argue would "scar" their neighborhood "oasis."
They also expressed distaste at plans for the basketball court, which would bear the logo of street apparel company Pink Dolphin, whose CEO donated money to the project.
Ryu said the Department of Recreation and Parks has agreed to halt construction on the project, and Recreation and Parks commissioners will be asked to reconsider the project.
"The public deserves to have a say in determining the future of the park," he said Ryu.
He plans to host a meeting to hear residents' concerns.
The popular hiking destination and off-leash park in the Santa Monica Mountains, which is currently closed while undergoing pipeline upgrades, hosts 1.8 million visitors every year, including 300,000 dogs, city officials said.
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The basketball court, which was scheduled to open to the public on July 31, is part of a privately-funded rehabilitation project that will rebuild the existing concrete court and fencing, along with a retaining wall.
Rob Glushon, the attorney who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the community group Citizens Preserving Runyon Canyon, applauded the delay.
