Studio City hikers face a new Wilacre parking fee after MRCA ends free-parking subsidy
Wilacre Park in Studio City started charging for parking again on May 20 after MRCA said county budget cuts ended the subsidy that kept it free.
Studio City hikers heading to Wilacre Park are once again paying to park. The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority says the fee returned on May 20 after Los Angeles County budget cuts ended the subsidy that had kept the trailhead free.
Wilacre Park is one of the neighborhood’s key trail access points, and it tends to draw steady use from hikers and dog walkers. That makes the parking change more than a lot-level issue: when weekend demand is high, it can also affect nearby streets as drivers look for other places to leave their cars.
According to MRCA’s parking notice and Q&A, drivers now pay $7 for up to two hours or $14 for up to four hours per vehicle. Trail and picnic-area use remains free. The agency says the fee is intended to help cover park maintenance and operations at the site.
For residents and frequent visitors, the immediate effect is straightforward: a popular Studio City trailhead now carries an added out-of-pocket cost. If some drivers try to avoid the fee by using surrounding curb space instead, nearby blocks could feel the spillover on busy days.
MRCA’s governing board is scheduled to meet on June 3, giving residents another chance to watch for any discussion of the parking change. Until then, anyone using Wilacre should expect to pay to park.
