Following up on a project to improve the look of the La Jolla Cove lifeguard tower, the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy is setting its sights on replacing security shutters at the facility.
The conservancy recently launched a campaign to raise a little over $10,000 to replace the shutters and doors. The goal is to have them installed by June.
More than $7,000 already was committed to the project, which is expected to cost roughly $17,500.
Below the tower observation deck is a small office that houses thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment used by lifeguards. Because the walls are largely glass, they are protected by metal shutters at night — or at least they should be.
But being in a marine environment, the machinery that raises and lowers the shutters, along with the shutters themselves, have stopped functioning fully. One shutter has been completely removed.
When the conservancy executed a project to stain the exterior of the lifeguard tower observation area in December, the team learned of the need for the shutters to be replaced.
“Replacing the shutters felt like a complementary project for the tower,” said conservancy member Brenda Fake.
Working with the city of San Diego and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation, the conservancy received a bid for $9,500 to replace one shutter and one door or $17,594 for all the shutters and all the doors.
Opting for the latter, the conservancy and the Fire-Rescue Foundation each donated $2,500 for the project. Soon after, another $2,500 was committed by people who frequent The Cove, leaving $10,094 to be raised.
“It sounds like a lot of money, but they are custom-made shutters and the total cost includes installation and maintenance,” Fake said. “So it’s not just fixing them, but long-term maintenance.”
Replacing the shutters and doors at the La Jolla Cove lifeguard tower is expected to cost roughly $17,500, including installation and maintenance. (Ashley Mackin-Solomon)
She said it takes about 30 days to manufacture the shutters and doors, and with the summer tourist season rapidly approaching, the conservancy is looking to raise the money as soon as possible.
Those who would like to donate can visit lajollacoastalconservancy.org.
The conservancy formed in early 2025, inspired by the public/private collaboration between the city and La Jolla’s Friends of Coast Walk Trail, of which Fake is president. It aims to provide a mechanism for private entities to conduct repairs on city land by using a right-of-entry permit and relationships with the city rather than starting from scratch for each project.
The conservancy has a three-year right-of-entry permit with an option for a two-year renewal. The group drafted a list of projects it said could be done immediately under the permit, including repairs to belvederes, or gazebos, in La Jolla parks and fixing various beach access stairs that have been closed because of safety concerns.
Last year, the conservancy funded and carried out two local projects that were completed the first week of December.
The first was to remove a dead Canary Island date palm tree at Goldfish Point next to The Cave Store parking area on Dec. 3.
The other project, to re-stain the exterior and repaint the trim of the Cove lifeguard tower, was carried out Dec. 3-4 by local contractor PaintGreen. ♦