Hollywood Joins Forces to Save The Peak

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Efforts to stop real estate developers buying land around the Hollywood Sign have raised 9 million dollars. The development of homes is viewed as disastrous to local wildlife habitats as well as ruining the iconic view of the Hollywood sign. 3 million is still needed before a deadline of April the 14th, but with donations from some of Hollywoods biggest names including Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and 20th Century Fox, the signs look good for Trust for Public Land, TPL, to raise the necessary funds. The President of TPL Will Rogers put it to the Los Angeles Community to help raise the outstanding amount.
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On the hills of Los Angeles, 9 white letters have come to symbolize American movie making. The view of iconic Hollywood sign could soon change. As real estate developers attempt to buy the land on Cahuenga peak for 12 and a half million dollars.
The Trust for Public Land and their President Will Rogers has launched a campaign to save the peak.

Having houses along that rideline, would be traversity, to the extent that the sign in its iconic way is such a wonderfully recognized symbol world round. This effort has gotten global attention.

The Land is also important for other reasons

"It's got terrific trails, its got wonderful views, its visible from everywhere, its important habitat for a bunch of different plants and animal species. Its an important human habitat as well. Even if the sign weren’t there, we'll be working hard to protect this special place."

Hollywood has stepped up, and donated already 9 million dollars.

"Academy of Motion Picture Arts, CBS corporation, Lucas Film, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, Steven Spielberg, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Walt Disney. Its quite a list Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson. It’s a good thing that Governor Schwarzenegger is standing up and saying we've to do something about this."

More donations are needed.

"We're still 3 million dollars short at this point and there a number of conversations going on. We covered the sign with save the peak and got a lot of attention, so we've got a lot of good conversations going on how we're going to get this thing over the top. So we are cautiously optimistic but there are no guarantees."

Will Rogers put it to Los Angeles to step up.

"Be not a very flattering statement about the citizens of Los Angeles and their willingness to protect their iconic landscape, it will be ugly."

The Trust for Public Land has until the 14th of April to raise the necessary funds.

Ken Van der Meeren, Annenberg Radio News.