BIRD ROCK – Bird Rock Community Council has done an about-face, opting to greenlight a monument sign project spelling out the community’s name that was previously rejected.
Plans for the La Jolla neighborhood’s signage project now call for placement of pelican statues atop two natural rocks placed in La Jolla Boulevard medians next to pedestrian crossings at roundabouts south of the Colima Street roundabout and north of the Camino de la Costa.
“We will ask Bird Rockers to send photos/images of the images they would like to have on the monuments and the (BRCC) board will select which image(s) to use,” said BRCC president Joe Terry.
“The real Bird Rock has changed a lot over the last 300-plus years, and having images from two different eras could be great,” he added. “Each of the two monuments to Bird Rock will be at the end of Bird Rock Avenue.”
Subject to the results of a line-of-sight assessment and the city’s approval, Terry said the two new namesake community monuments will include:
- A rock about 5.5 feet wide and 3 feet tall;
- A 3-foot-tall statue of a California brown pelican with natural coloring;
- A 2-foot-wide and 1-foot-tall plaque that includes the words “Bird Rock” and an image of the real Bird Rock, which may differ by monument.
- A small memorial plaque for Pat Bender, which would be on the ground in front of the monument to Bird Rock.
- The plaque will be 24 inches by 12 inches, and the images of Bird Rock are to be determined.
- A $25,000 grant from Vanguard Charitable will be used for the sculptures in memory of the late Pat Bender.
The Bird Rock neighborhood got its name from a large rock that was shaped like a bird. Although the rock’s bird-like arch has since collapsed due to erosion, changing its shape, the area’s distinctive landmark was a significant feature that inspired the community’s name.
The offshore rock was once a popular feature for bird-watchers and surfers, providing a unique visual landmark for the area. Despite the rock’s erosion, the name and the natural landmark continue to be an integral part of the community’s identity and local culture.
Developer Michael Francis Hall officially named the community “Bird Rock – City by the Sea” when he subdivided the area in 1906.
