A pair of Bird Rock Community Council projects that have long been in the works are remaining so, though BRCC Vice President Christine McVay reported positive developments for one of them — a plan to install two Bird Rock monument signs on La Jolla Boulevard.
The other, to put lighting at dozens of trees along that street, has “less legs” at the moment, according to group President Joe Parker.
The former project would place two natural rocks topped with pelican statues in La Jolla Boulevard medians next to the pedestrian crossings south of the Colima Street roundabout and north of the Camino de la Costa roundabout.
The rocks are expected to be roughly 5½ feet wide and 3 feet tall, while the pelicans are planned to stand 3 feet tall with “natural-looking” colors of white, brown and yellow.
The San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and Public Arts Committee approved the project’s design in March.
McVay, who is serving as the project lead after first getting involved about a year and a half ago, says the next step is securing a right-of-way permit from the city Development Services Department.
The BRCC board landed on several decisions for the project’s look ahead of a public meeting in May 2025.
At the council’s meeting the following month, many local residents and merchants questioned the board’s decision to omit the words “Bird Rock” from the signs.
Critics of the decision said the neighborhood’s name is necessary to give a better sense of place and boost local businesses. Supporters said the statues would speak for themselves, though the name could be added later if deemed necessary.
The board eventually decided in August to include the Bird Rock name. But since then, updates about the project have been sparse.
McVay told the La Jolla Light this week that the signs “will be really great to have [as] bookends of Bird Rock. So when people are entering Bird Rock, they’ll know they’re in Bird Rock. When they’re leaving Bird Rock, they’ll know they’re leaving. I think a lot of people don’t really know — especially if they’re visiting from out of town.”
While a timeline is still up in the air, Parker expressed hope that the project can be finished early next year.
However, the odds of a speedy conclusion to the lighting project appear dimmer.
At BRCC’s meeting last July, it was said to be mere weeks away. But permitting issues have held up the plans for almost a year.
The plan is to install in-ground uplighting fixtures at 36 trees “to help identify the Bird Rock commercial district” and make it “safer and more attractive at night.”
“That’s going to be a slower project,” Parker said at this month’s BRCC meeting. “I’m disappointed that we can’t get that moving a little faster, but we’ve got a lot of capable eyes on it and we will do our best to bring that to you.”
Bird Rock Community Council President Joe Parker speaks at a recent meeting. (Noah Lyons)
Parker and McVay said both projects need further fundraising.
A $25,000 grant from Vanguard Charitable in memory of the late Pat Bender will be used for the pelican sculptures at the request of Bender’s husband, J. Dennis Bender. Pat Bender will be honored with a small plaque on the ground in front of the monument signs.
“But it’s going to be costing more than originally anticipated because of the cost of the materials — which include the rock, the pelican, the plaque and … the consulting to get this through the city,” McVay said.
Meanwhile, the lighting project was aided by a $25,000 grant in February 2024 from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program through the office of San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, whose District 3 includes La Jolla.
“We’ll pursue grants when they’re available,” Parker said. “But … if you’re interested in the project and you support it … help us out. … The cost of construction and all the materials with it are surprisingly expensive.”
BRCC officials did not provide cost estimates for either project or the amount of money they need to raise.
A formal fundraiser is expected in coming weeks. Details will be announced through email and the BRCC website, birdrockcc.org. ♦