The review of Santa Anita Park’s tree removal permit application has been suspended by the city of Arcadia at the request of the racetrack as 2028 Olympic organizers reevaluate the previously proposed cross-country course design.
That design had drawn pushback from residents, who packed a recent community meetings to voice displeasure with the trajectory of the project.
In a statement the city of Arcadia said Wednesday, Sept. 9, that Santa Anita Park requested that the city suspend its review of a permit application that requested permission to remove 34 protected oak trees on the track property as part of preparations to host equestrian competition during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
An additional 45 trees would be encroached upon as part of the proposed course design.
“With the application now on pause, the City’s administrative review process is also suspended,” the city’s statement read. “At this time, there is no decision pending before City staff or the Arcadia City Council regarding the proposed tree removals.”
The requested tree removals would be part of the construction of a cross-country course to be located at the local landmark. Local tree advocates and Arcadia residents have attended recent City Council meetings and a lively town hall event held at Santa Anita Park voicing opposition to the planned removal.
LA28 and Santa Anita Park officials reiterated that the proposed plan, which included removing trees, was not finalized and would be reviewed and adjusted all the way up to the start of the games.
LA28 could not be reached for comment on how the suspended review would impact preparation for equestrian competition at the racetrack.
At the town hall, organizers described a year of work that went into settling on the latest course map and that previous iterations of the course would have impacted even more trees.
According to the city, Santa Anita Park and LA28 have committed to “reevaluating their proposed course design and opportunities to reduce impacts to protected trees.
“The input provided by Arcadians and environmental advocates at that meeting has been an important part of the public process, and I am encouraged by the project team’s willingness to reconsider the proposal in response to that input,” Mayor Paul Cheng said in a statement.
Santa Anita Park applied for the tree removal permit in July. Healthy tree removal permits are processed administratively by Arcadia’s Development Services Department, according to the city.
“Should a revised permit application be submitted, the public notification process will restart, providing the community an opportunity to review and input on the revised plans,” the city’s statement read. “If the existing permit application process resumes without changes to the course design, stakeholders who have contacted the City on this matter will be notified.”
Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the sports’ governing body, has mandated that all three equestrian disciplines — showing jumping, eventing and dressage — be held at the same facility for the 2028 Olympics.
For more information, visit arcadiaca.gov.