In light of San Diego’s hefty projected budget deficit, local groups are getting creative to try to get their projects on the city docket or to fund things themselves. One such group is Friends of Windansea in La Jolla.
As the organization anticipates a price tag of well over $200,000 and as high as $400,000 for street modifications and erosion-fighting maintenance in the Windansea Beach area, the board is seeking private donations and public grants.
To raise funds for the projects, the group is offering memorial plaques for $25,000 each.
The 2½-by-10-inch brass plaques will be recessed into the railing at the top of four beach access stairways and a belvedere to be placed at the beach between Kolmar and Rosemont streets, according to Jim Neri, a Friends of Windansea member.
Melinda Merryweather, one of the founders of Friends of Windansea, said the plaques will be similar to memorial benches, bearing the names of donors’ deceased loved ones.
So far, donors have pledged for the belvedere and the Westbourne Street beach access stairway. The locations at Kolmar Street and Palomar and Winamar avenues are still available for plaques.
The donors for the belvedere and Westbourne declined to be identified, according to Friends of Windansea.
An 8-1 vote by the San Diego Parks and Recreation Board allowed the group to sell the plaques. Before that, the program was pushed forward by the La Jolla Community Planning Association, Community Recreation Group and Parks & Beaches board.
Merryweather said the Friends are grateful to the city for allowing them to raise funds with the plaque project.
“If you love Windansea Beach, we really need your help in doing this erosion project,” Merryweather said. “Any donations we’d be grateful for.”
Awarding the plaques involves a process in which a list of donors and inscriptions is compiled, a mockup is made of each plaque, the donors approve and the proofs are sent to the city Parks & Recreation Department for approval.
The plaques will remain as long as the structure does, and donors will be responsible for any replacement costs, Neri said. Plaques are sold on a first come, first served basis.
Friends of Windansea has raised and spent more than $3 million in collaboration with the city over the span of 32 years. Learn more at friendsofwindansea.org. ♦
