Nonprofit to Unveil Billboard Opposing Proposed Sports Complex in Altadena Foothills

A local nonprofit plans to unveil a hand-painted billboard Tuesday afternoon urging protection of Altadena’s foothills, in response to a private school’s proposed sports complex development.

AltadenaWILD announced it will host a launch party at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 for the new sign, which reads “Keep Altadena Wild” and “Help Protect Our Foothills.”

The billboard is located on Lake Avenue, a main route to area hiking trails.

The artwork, a collaboration between muralist Victor Ving and his partner Lisa Beggs, David Lawrence and Amber Easton of Craft Ads, and AltadenaWILD, will catch the eye of drivers about Polytechnic School’s plans to build an athletics facility called “Poly Fields” on 78 acres of land along Chaney Trail.

The nonprofit says more than half of local residents are unaware of the school’s development plans.

Pasadena’s Polytechnic School filed an application with Los Angeles County earlier this year for a new athletic and outdoor education facility, Polyfields, on the Nuccio’s Nurseries property off Chaney Trail in Altadena.

According to a statement released by the school, 80% of the 80-acre property will be conserved permanently.

The proposed development site, seven miles from the school’s main Pasadena location ner Caltech, would include a football/soccer stadium, baseball stadium, tennis courts, gymnasium, and other facilities with night lighting and parking for 208 vehicles.

Michael Bicay, president of AltadenaWILD, said the proposed development site is adjacent to the Altadena Foothills and Arroyos Significant Ecological Area and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

“Nearly 7,000 people, the vast majority from Altadena and Pasadena, have signed a petition of opposition to the proposed development,” Bicay said.

Ving, known for creating civic murals across the U.S., said he wanted to support AltadenaWILD’s mission through his art.

“The ability to immediately escape to our local trails and immerse ourselves in a tranquil natural setting is one of the main reasons I chose to call this area home,” Ving said.

AltadenaWILD said it plans to announce other artistic collaborations in the coming months.

The billboard unveiling is scheduled at Cafe de Leche, 2477 N. Lake Ave. A group photograph is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.