Runyon Canyon lawsuit aims to halt construction of basketball court

The battle over a new basketball court inside Runyon Canyon Park is heating up.

Residents of the neighborhood surrounding the park have filed a lawsuit against the city of L.A. in an effort to block construction of the court, the L.A. Times reported.

Citizens Preserving Runyon, the neighborhood association, claims the city neglected to conduct an environmental review of the project. They say the court will result in “a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels.”

The group argues that the potentially “affected neighbors and residents” were not given due process in the decision to approve the basketball court, which is being funded through a $250,000 private donation from Neima Khaila, who heads a streetwear company called Pink Dolphin. To recognize his contribution, the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks has allowed Khaila to advertise his company via a logo on the court.

Some residents also objected to the prospect of corporate marketing infiltrating the park at a recent neighborhood council meeting. [LAT] — Cathaleen Chen