La Jolla Parks and Beaches, Inc. heard from a city park official about the status of open-space parks throughout the community and listened to a public works representative discussing the latest on the La Jolla Heights Natural Park Reservoir project.
Those were some of the highlights of the community advisory group’s Feb. 23 monthly meeting.
Chris Zirkle, a city parks deputy director, gave a presentation and provided a handout detailing several designated open-space park areas throughout La Jolla, including Pottery Canyon, at 3034 Torrey Pines Road.
Zirkle noted environmental protection for many open-space parks located throughout San Diego includes an ordinance protecting environmentally sensitive land, much of which is included in a Multi-Habitat Planning Area, which provides interconnecting wildlife corridors that allow free movement of animal species.
“Pottery Canyon is on dedicated parkland, and only park uses are allowed there,” Zirkle said, adding that a children’s playground would be one allowable use.
“Would an amphitheater be allowed?” queried board member Melinda Merryweather.
“Not like Cricket Amphitheater (in Chula Vista), but a natural amphitheater,” answered Zirkle.
“Having an amphitheater and live music there would be fabulous,” Merryweather pointed out.
Group chair Dan Allen noted that open-space parks are sensitive to erosion.
“One thing I’m noticing is more (hiking) trails which get washed out every time it rains, which erodes them, making the trails deeper,” Allen said.
“We have that problem all over,” agreed Zirkle.
Zirkle also discussed the city’s brush management requirements for open-space parklands. He said that city crews weed out open-space parklands every other year, first removing nonnative species and then selectively thinning out brush to create fire breaks, which protect structures and aid in keeping wildland fires contained.
Parita Amerlahn, of the city’s Public Works Department, gave a presentation on the La Jolla Heights Natural Park Reservoir project, which will demolish two existing reservoirs and build a new, larger reservoir in the park. The demolished site is to be restored to its natural condition. Amerlahn noted that design work on the long-term reservoir replacement project is now about 60 percent complete and that the project, once it begins, will take about two years to complete. She promised that affected areas, including the reservoir to be filled in, will be returned to their natural state with planting of native species. A couple of local residents expressed concern that it appears some hiking trails near the construction area may be closed during construction. They were told that the proper way to register their views is to contact their local councilmember or the mayor’s office.
In other action, the board voted 9-7 in favor of a proposal by the Junior League of San Diego to host the La Jolla Food and Wine Festival May 1-2 in Scripps Park. Planners voting against the proposal said they wanted to be provided with a map showing what parts of the park will be used. “Construction changes down there by the hour,” said board member Bill Robinson, referring to ongoing construction in and around the Cove lifeguard tower. “You may not get all the park you had last year because of the construction and the access.”