After the board of directors of La Jolla Parks & Beaches resisted or at least wanted to limit new events at Scripps Park for years, they voted this week to support two events planned for the park next year.
The Strength in the City fitness event is scheduled for January 16, and the Concours d’Elegance auto show will return on April 24 after a two-year absence.
The board has dealt in the past with events that restrict access to public parks and charge an entrance fee. She once even considered a moratorium on new events in La Jolla’s public parks.
Although Strength in the City was held in the parks of San Diego, the 2022 edition would be the first in Scripps Park.
Applicant’s representative, Madison Fray, said during the board meeting on October 25th that the event would feature “two fitness stages … in the back of the green with speakers facing the ocean”. It is also said to include a meditation tent, activity booths, fitness classes, and more.
To minimize visual disturbance, stages should be no more than 2 feet high and fences about 4 feet high. The city of San Diego has allowed event organizers to sell up to 500 tickets.
Part of the park is to be used for paying guests who take lessons there. Another part with stalls and children’s activities will be open to the public.
LJP & B trustee Melinda Merryweather pointed out the previous attitude of the board of directors to restrict new events and not to “pimp the park”.
“I wish we could leave our parks for the people,” she said. “It’s extremely important, and one day every park will become a cocktail party venue. … I think that would be terrible. “
In 2005 the board began to discuss whether to allow new events or limit the number of events in a calendar year. In 2020, LJP & B narrowly voted against a proposal (submitted by former board members) to ban any new event at Scripps Park that charges admission, erects fences, and / or sells for-profit.
Since the permit is for a year, the board voted to support Strength in the City on condition that it be reviewed in future years. There was no objection, although Merryweather and Trustees Sally Miller, John Leek and Ann Dynes abstained without comment.
With much less discussion, the board also voted to support the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance next year. The 2020 show was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic and relocated to the Viejas Casino & Resort in Alpine for 2021.
Concours chairman Michael Dorvillier told the board: “We are replicating what would have been in 2020 and putting it in 2022”.
He said the show will have an event with tickets with cars on the grass in Scripps Park and a free component with vintage cars lining the street for the general public. The proceeds will go to the La Jolla Historical Society.
La Jolla Parks & Beaches group will discuss events in local parks, community projects and more during their online session on October 25th.
(Ashley Mackin-Solomon)
More news on parks and beaches
Updating Capital Improvement Projects: As part of an annual cycle, the city offers community groups the opportunity to compile a list of projects for the city to undertake. Funding sources include freely available funds that city council members can allocate to city departments, along with funds for specific capital improvement projects.
A preliminary list has been drawn up by the Joe LaCava City Council Bureau, District 1 of which is La Jolla, and is being reviewed by various municipal departments and will be reviewed again in January. In the meantime, local bodies can submit their recommendations for items to consider.
LaCava representative Steve Hadley said the city council is tasked with handling all projects from all parishes in the district and narrowing them down to 15 items for review. An LJP&B working group will meet to create a list that can be submitted for this year’s cycle on parks and beaches and projects under the LJP & B’s jurisdiction.
Children’s Pool Projects: Phyllis Minick, construction organizer of Children’s Pool Plaza and trustee of LJP & B, said future projects are planned to improve La Jolla’s pioneering children’s pool.
The Children’s Pool Plaza project, which was completed in 2018, included removing some landscaping, replacing and widening the sidewalk to improve pedestrian flow, and adding wall seats and bike racks to the area overlooking the children’s pool at 850 Coast Blvd.
After the construction of the square, the rough jetty, the handrails on the stairs and “badly damaged” parapets are currently being considered for repairs.
Further details were not known and no action was taken, but a fuller discussion and possible action will be scheduled for the next meeting of the Board.
Next Meeting: The La Jolla Parks & Beaches Board of Directors will be merging its November and December meetings online at its next meeting on Monday, December 6th at 4pm. Learn more at lajollaparksbeaches.org. ◆
