Elephant Hill in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles may seem like an unassuming bump in the concrete jungle, but it’s been at the center of a lengthy battle over land use for the last few decades. Developers have been trying to turn the 20-acre hillside property—nicknamed “The Heavens” by residents—into houses since at least 1993. It wasn’t until 2009 that City Council, with Councilman José Huizar from District 14 taking the reins, officially ended the battle by settling with developers for $9 million, purchasing the land with guarantees it would be soon designated as an open space park.

That promise partially came to fruition in 2013, when the Council sold a five-acre section of Elephant Hill to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for $495,000. The hillside offers decent views of the surrounding Los Angeles landscape and provides a quieter escape from the busy streets below. It’s the kind of place where you can take your dog for a walk without navigating heavy crowds, which makes it appealing if you’re in the area and want a break from more trafficked spots.

The remaining 15 acres have been designated as “open space” while the City Council looks for other agencies like the MRCA to purchase and develop them further. That designation means the land stays protected from development in the meantime. The hill’s history—from developers’ decades-long pursuit to community preservation—gives the place a different character than your standard neighborhood park. You’re walking on ground that residents fought hard to keep accessible.

It’s not the most dramatic hike or the most manicured park, but Elephant Hill represents something worth celebrating. If you’re exploring El Sereno and want a modest outdoor spot with actual history behind it, the hill delivers exactly what it promises: open space where your dog can roam without worrying about future condos going up around you.