A new conservancy group has formed in La Jolla looking to expedite repair and maintenance projects in key local coastal public spaces and is seeking volunteers.
Inspired by the public/private collaboration between the city of San Diego and Friends of Coast Walk Trail, the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy aims to provide a mechanism for private entities to conduct repair projects on city land by using conservancy permits and relationships with the city instead of starting from scratch.
The areas to be covered include Coast Walk Trail, Scripps Park, South Casa Beach, Wipeout Beach, Cuvier Park and Whale View Point.
“This conservancy is working cross-functionally between different city departments,” said board President Brenda Fake, who also is president of Friends of Coast Walk Trail. “The whole mission is to take control and expedite cleaning up our park and green space areas and build on the work we were doing with Friends of Coast Walk Trail.”
The city works with the Friends group to establish multi-year, blanket right-of-entry permits instead of issuing individual right-of-entry permits project by project. This allows the Friends to raise funds for and carry out projects on public property more efficiently.
Several planting and trail stabilization projects have taken place in recent years, and currently the Friends group is shepherding a project to repair the trail’s pedestrian bridge.
“When I started seeing this stuff happening on the trail and started having these conversations with the city, they said this could be a model for other communities to follow,” Fake said.
Looking to expand the areas that could be covered with the model, she went to the city last year with a proposal to establish the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy.
“We had a meeting last Christmas and the response was ‘We like this idea’ and they got back to me in January saying they wanted to pursue this further,” Fake said.
By June, the city had signed off on it, and now the conservancy has a three-year right-of-entry permit with an option for a two-year renewal.
Fake said the group is waiting for final state accreditation, which she expects in the next 30 days.
With this model, she said, “you can get stuff done and it can be quite efficient. … People can feel like they can actually fix your own backyard. That is what we are trying to do. We want to help the city help us to do better.
“The city still maintains basic maintenance like grass cutting and trash pickup, but we could supplement those services. We have that option.”
The conservancy already has drafted a short list of projects it says could be done immediately under the right-of-entry permit, along with the costs associated with them. They include repairs to belvederes, or gazebos, in La Jolla parks and fixing various beach access stairs that have been closed because of safety concerns.
If a nonprofit or service organization picks a project from the list, Fake said, “we get the approvals from the [applicable city departments] and learn what it will take to get done, then go back to them to discuss fundraising.”
Other projects being considered include fabricating and installing new benches, repairing fences and handrails and supplementing lawn care at Scripps Park.
Fake also is working to build the group’s board with additional volunteers, ideally people with a background in philanthropy or fundraising.
Those who would like to learn more can attend the “Cocktails Off Coast Walk” fundraiser beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the La Jolla Historical Society or visit friendsofcoastwalk.org. ♦