Due to paperwork, decorating a Christmas tree outside the La Jolla Recreation Center has been delayed, but organizers say they are still committed to completing the project in time for this year's holidays.
The initiative to revive the decades-long tree tradition — which was stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic — was launched this fall by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club and La Jolla-based GDC Construction, along with a price tag of about $15,000 -Dollars for new ornaments and lighting.
Supporters said they raised more than $22,000 for the drive in about a month – enough to fill 60 boxes with new decorations and lights.
Organizers originally planned to light the tree before the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Festival on Sunday, December 8th. According to this plan, the installation of lighting would have taken place on December 2nd, followed by decoration the next day.
But the process slowed recently when Sunrise Rotary and GDC Construction were informed that additional requirements would need to be met before the city of San Diego would grant permission to install the tree on the lawn of the city-operated Rec Center at 615 Prospect St . to decorate.
Organizers are now working to close gaps in paperwork and begin the project. Steve Cross, past president of the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club, said the group plans to complete the work the week before Christmas.
Meanwhile, electricians are studying how to safely stack fairy lights and organizers are building tree-top scaffolding. Cross said he will meet with project co-chair Laura McDonald to discuss scheduling and recruiting volunteers to put up the decorations.
“If that sounds like it’s a lot, it is a lot,” Cross said. However, he added that sentiment remains high for the project to come to fruition.
“Everyone is very optimistic about it and we will work together to finish the final pieces and then start installing all the lights around the tree,” Cross said. “By then we will be ready to release some lighting dates. We definitely want to reach out to the community and get them to see it.”
Benny Cartwright, a spokesman for the San Diego Parks & Recreation Department, said he shared the hope that the permit could be issued before the holidays.
Pancho Dewhurst, president of GDC Construction, said he was also confident and that the tree would look “fantastic.”
“We make it happen,” Dewhurst said. “We had to overcome some hurdles and then everything will be done. We are very grateful to the La Jolla community.”
He added that the city has been “very forthcoming” in discussing the project and implementing it.
40 year tradition
The Rec Center Christmas tree has a long history. Its roots date back to 1984, when members of the Rotary Club erected it as a hallmark of the La Jolla Christmas Parade.
The founding group included Dewhurst's father, George, founder of GDC Construction and former president of the La Jolla City Council.
In the early 2020s, an imperfect storm of logistical challenges, inadequate funding and the pandemic halted the tradition. Many of the lights and decorations were damaged or out of order.
For a while, it didn't look like 2024 would be the year the decorations would return. Recreation center director Nick Volpe said in October that was unlikely due to time and budget constraints.
But Pancho Dewhurst looked outside to secure funding and revive the tradition his family had helped found. Last month, he presented the return of the Christmas tree to members of the Sunrise Rotary Club and called on many “old-school La Jollans” to get involved in the effort. He also offered the services of four workers over two days.
Public support was swift and strong, as La Jollans exceeded the fundraising goal by $7,000.
McDonald, a La Jolla-based designer, offered her expertise in creating a La Jolla-style tree with seahorses, seashells and other beach decor.
Looking into the future
Reviving the La Jolla Christmas tree is not a temporary effort. The 12,000 commercially available, shatterproof, soft LED lights as well as many shatterproof ornaments are intended to maintain the tradition in the years to come.
The lights can also remain on the tree year-round to avoid the cost of annual removal and reinstallation. The ornaments, on the other hand, will be taken down at the beginning of the new year, Dewhurst said.
The La Jolla Community Recreation Group, the Rec Center's advisory board, voted Nov. 20 to allow the Sunrise Rotary Club to install lights and ornaments this year and to develop a multi-year plan to keep the lights up year-round to keep it on to make the vacation process easier.
Cross said current discussions with the city could speed up the process for future versions of the Christmas tree.
“We will work out the schedule … and make sure we can light the tree for the community to enjoy this season and then have it ready for next season and seasons after that,” he said.
“We wanted to fulfill our obligation to the community that donated the funds, and that is important. And [to] the community as a whole – people who didn't contribute and didn't know it, but would like to see the tree lit. That’s a lot of people.” ♦
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