In September, La Jolla Parks and Beaches, Inc. were updated by city staffer Bill Harris about Coast Walk vegetation and Black’s Lookout maintenance, while also approving plans for the annual Concours D’Elegance classic auto show next spring.
Harris was invited by LJPB to answer questions about Coast Walk trail’s vegetation, including its dilapidated wooden bridge. He also discussed maintenance issues with Black’s Lookout.
In March, LJPB board member Patrick Ahern suggested improvements to the Black’s Beach lookout serving surfers. He advocated restoring the site’s luster with native, drought-resistant plantings and a park bench.
But after initially concurring with Ahern, parks board colleague and coastal-access advocate Melinda Merryweather have since opposed his suggestion, insisting plantings at the lookout grow too high, aren’t maintained properly and block coastal views.
Noting the surf lookout is jointly served by the city’s streets division and parks and rec department, Harris said, “We’re trying to figure out who’s supposed to do what. We may have to come up with something new and innovative.”
Harris said plantings would require a 90-day permit adding, “We’re (city’s) going to craft an agreement for those plantings to be allowed, including that in a maintenance agreement.”
Concerning the dilapidated wooden bridge on Coast Walk trail, Harris said, “The trail is currently being reconfigured to create a bypass around the bridge.” He added restoration of the bridge “has no timeline.”
Harris said some grant funding may also be available to realign and restore Coast Walk trail and rehabilitate its old bridge. “We’re looking into that,” he said. Event promoter Michael Dorvillier and Heath Fox of La Jolla Historical Society presented on the annual Concours D’Elegance classic car show in April held in Ellen Browning Scripps Park that is becoming an increasingly popular showcase event for the Village drawing auto aficionados from all over the nation and world.
“Our footprint is exactly the same as the last two years,” said Dorvillier.
But the event advocates ran up against the familiar competition, LJPB board members reluctant to allow Scripps Park to be used almost exclusively by one group barring public access.
“We’re establishing criteria for park use which will be done in 10 to 14 days to be released for public comment for 30 days,” said LJPB board member Mary Ellen Morgan. “We’re trying to get some cohesive instructions for events and park usage.”
Morgan argued Concours use of the park obscures public views noting, “The public should be able to see the ocean across the grass.”
Morgan asked that approval for the car show be tabled until that park usage review is complete, a suggestion the group rejected before approving plans for staging the Concours in April 2018 by a 10-6 vote.