Pasadena City Council to Vote on Rose Bowl Riders Lease

The city council will consider a lease termination notice for the long-standing equestrian nonprofit this Tuesday.

Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Pasadena City Council to Vote on Rose Bowl Riders Lease

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Pasadena officials are set to address the future of the Rose Bowl Riders nonprofit at Hahamongna Watershed Park during a City Council meeting on Tuesday. The council will weigh a new lease termination notice while simultaneously voting to rescind a prior notice due to a potential Brown Act violation.

Why it matters

The city aims to reclaim the 12-acre facility, citing the expiration of the original lease in 2023 and alleged failures by the group to meet maintenance and public-benefit requirements. The move reflects broader city efforts to redefine the future use of public land currently held by the nonprofit.

The Rose Bowl Riders have operated on the 12-acre city-owned property since 1946, with annual insurance costs exceeding $50,000. An online petition to preserve the group has garnered over 2,000 signatures ahead of the upcoming council vote.

The players

Pasadena City Council

This is the governing body of the city responsible for passing ordinances, adopting the budget, and setting policy for municipal operations.

Rose Bowl Riders

This is a nonprofit organization that has provided equestrian services and public-benefit riding lessons in the Pasadena area for decades.

The details

City staff are recommending that the council rescind a September 21, 2026, Notice to Quit to ensure procedural compliance before pursuing a fresh termination of the holdover tenancy. The city alleges the group failed to provide required riding lessons and insurance while allowing the property to suffer from deferred maintenance.

1946: The Rose Bowl Riders began operations at the facility.
December 31, 2023: The previous lease agreement officially expired.
September 21, 2026: The city issued its initial Notice to Quit to the organization.
October 20, 2026: The City Council is scheduled to meet and vote on the termination notice.
January 31, 2027: The established deadline for the nonprofit to vacate the property.

Political Context

Opponents of the termination argue that the city is bypassing public transparency and ignoring the historical value of the equestrian facility. They emphasize that the nonprofit serves as a vital access point to the Arroyo Seco trail network for local residents.

Local equestrians and park users face the potential loss of access to the 12-acre facility if the council moves forward with the January 2027 eviction deadline. Residents may also see changes to public riding lesson availability or the eventual transition of the site to new, as-yet-unspecified city programs.

The takeaway

Residents interested in the future of Hahamongna Watershed Park should track the council's upcoming deliberations regarding public land use. The case underscores the tension between municipal control of property and the preservation of long-standing community-operated recreational facilities.