An ongoing beautification project, Bird Rock Community Wall at the Waverly Gate Entrance to Bird Rock Joint Use Park spotlights community residents past and present along with their accomplishments.
Residents, their relations, even their pets are immortalized on the community wall, which was officially dedicated on Feb. 5, 2011. The first honoree on the wall, much smaller back then, was past Bird Rock Community Council president Joe La Cava, recognized for his outstanding community service.
A special plaque commemorating LaCava is featured in the center of the first section of Bird Rock community wall. Joe Parker, the 2011 BRCC president, led the dedication ceremony.
“It took Joe (LaCava) more than five years to get that gate entering the park from Waverly Street on the north approved by San Diego Unified School District for Bird Rock Elementary,” said local artist Jane Wheeler, who produces tile mosaics appearing throughout the community on benches, walls, and flagpoles.
“The wall symbolizes how Bird Rock families and merchants come together time and time again, put aside our individual differences, and provide for the common good of our community,” said LaCava. The wall was originally designed by Wheeler to have a three-fold purpose: To honor Joe La Cava, fundraise for Bird Rock Elementary, and connect the community together. 
Since the outset, local residents can purchase customized, handmade mosaic 6-inch by 6-inch tiles crafted by Wheeler costing $150 each to be inlaid into the community wall. Fused glass embedded in the wall was created by community members at Birdstock 2010, and mini tiles with Bird Rock street names are hidden throughout is structure.
Wheeler thinks of the community wall as a “living quilt.”
“It’s got the names of people, their kids, their businesses, when they graduated from BRE, their pets; it’s a big collage of the Bird Rock community as it has evolved,” she said.
From the outset, the community wall has had a different theme each year. In 2012, for instance, the theme was the 60th anniversary of Bird Rock Elementary School.
Fall of 2014 marked the installation of a new section of the Waverly Gate Community Wall, which that year was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Bird Rock Community Council founded in 1994.
“The theme this year is Bird Rock community spirit,” said Wheeler, who added she looks forward to working with families to “personalize” their tiles.
“I try to visualize each family, and select something appropriate for them, like putting a starfish, or some other cool prints, petals, glass or different inspirational words on it,” she said. “The coolest part to me is the time capsule effect. “It’s not just me and what I want to do or design. It’s actually the community designing it as it grows.”
Wheeler hopes to have her next 2018 themed panel commemorating community spirit done by the end of March.
The artist noted there’s plenty of room left on the wall. “Ten years at least,” she said.
To purchase a community wall tile contact Wheeler at [email protected] or call 619-822-1120.