Hollywood sign here to stay

A national landmark will now be incorporated into public park land after Hugh Hefner and a slew of other celebrities opened their checkbooks to save the famous Hollywood sign from Chicago-based developers who planned to build mansions on the land if the price tag could not be met.

On April 26, the Trust for Public Land announced that the necessary $12.5 million had been raised to purchase the land behind the sign. Hefner donated the final $900,000. The 138-acre area, known as Cahuenga Peak to locals, will be incorporated into nearby Griffith Park and will remain as open space for wildlife, hiking and other outdoor recreation.