City and tourism officials expressed guarded optimism Thursday morning when three significant donations toward funding beach fire pits were presented at a Mission Bay media conference.
A total of 186 fire pits, including 154 in Mission Bay, require maintenance funding.
The three oversized, Golf Tournament-type checks contributed $64,500, but private donors must raise about $120,000 for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The city has agreed to pay the remainder of the approximate $150,000 total pit cost, an official said.
“We’re well on our way; we’re over halfway there,” said Phyllis Pfeiffer, chair of the La Jolla Community Foundation, which assisted with $4,500. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t need additional support. We’re asking San Diegans and interested parties to get involved and to make a donation to help save our fire pits.”
The San Diego Foundation presented the highest donation with $35,000, and the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau added $25,000.
Officials said they are working toward finding a permanent solution to finance the beach fire pits, which Mayor Sanders said he cut in the budget in favor of libraries, police officers and firefighters.
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Sanders thanked the donors while speaking “on behalf of the families and visitors who value the crackling of a campfire and the taste of toasted marshmallows,” he said.
“This is something that’s a true community issue,” Sanders said, ”and I think the community is stepping up to handle it, and that’s the way it should be done. But as we start working our way out of this, I think you’ll see this cease to be an issue, but I think it’ll be in a couple years.”
The San Diego Foundation is accepting donations online.
