06/12/2026
Permit secured to build belvedere at La Jolla’s Windansea Beach
Detailed summary
The Friends of Windansea has secured a permit to build a belvedere at La Jolla's Windansea Beach, a project that has been in the works for several years, and hopes to begin construction before fall, with the goal of starting work by Labor Day, September 7.
The project involves building an approximately 63-square-foot blufftop belvedere, or gazebo, on Neptune Place near Rosemont Street, as well as installing about 1,800 feet of post-and-rope fencing along the sidewalk on the west side of Neptune between Westbourne Street and Palomar Avenue, and relocating two public benches and their concrete pads.
The entire project is being funded by Friends of Windansea, which has already raised enough money to build the belvedere, but still needs to raise around $1 million for the fencing and other erosion control measures, with donations being accepted through La Jolla Parks & Beaches at lajollaparksbeaches.org.
The La Jolla Parks & Beaches board has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of San Diego, allocating responsibilities for the structure to Friends of Windansea, and an encroachment maintenance and removal agreement, which outlines the responsibilities for maintaining and potentially removing the structure.
The project has undergone several community reviews since 2018, and has withstood appeals from opponents, including the Preserve Windansea Beach Association, who argued that the structure would be a public risk and obstruct ocean views, with all appeals being denied by the San Diego City Council, the San Diego Planning Commission, and the California Coastal Commission.
Friends of Windansea member Jim Neri expressed confidence that the project will be completed by Memorial Day, and thanked La Jolla Parks & Beaches for its support and participation in the agreement process, highlighting the valuable relationship between the two organizations.
The belvedere is intended to replace a similar structure that was built in the 1920s and torn down in the 1980s, and will provide a scenic viewpoint for visitors to Windansea Beach, with the post-and-rope fencing being built in phases to minimize the impact on beach traffic.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/06/11/permit-secured-to-build-belvedere-at-la-jollas-windansea-beach/
La Jolla Parks and Beaches, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation that preserves, protects, and enhances the parks, beaches, other recreational resources in La Jolla, California
