Local groups ask Encinitas to support pollinator garden at Pacific View Art Center

Tuesday, Feb. 18 — Two community organizers asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to support a volunteer-led pollinator garden at the back corner of the Pacific View Art Center, asking the city to help with a one-day cleanup, water supply, and updates to a Waterwise drip system.

"We have organized and brought together the pollinator garden steering committee to help reimagine the pollinator garden and to bring out the beauty of this tiny but mighty space," said Leah Strel, who identified herself as a sculptor and creative director for EcoFest Encinitas and a Nature's Treasures workshop facilitator at Pacific View Art Center.

Strel said the garden would dedicate space to native plants and milkweed to support butterflies, hummingbirds, moths and other pollinators, and would include an educational component for children and adults. She told the commission volunteers would maintain the garden bimonthly and that a nonprofit partner is being brought in to manage finances and insurance. "We already have grants interested in waiting for the go ahead," she said.

Jay Klopfenstein, an environmental educator and vice president of the California Retired Teachers Association Educational Foundation, offered a more detailed plan and supporting materials and suggested using the old schoolhouse area for a schoolyard habitat. He said he is organizing broader support across the state—including garden clubs and Rotary chapters—and mentioned a pollinator license plate program as a potential funding source, noting that a two-thirds vote is required to create a specialty plate.

Organizers named local groups that have expressed interest in supporting the garden, including Eco Rotary, Clean Earth for Kids and Encinitas Garden Clubs. They asked the city to provide labor for an initial cleanup day, assume water costs and approve drip-system upgrades to make the site sustainable.

Commissioners acknowledged the proposal and the commission chair said the item and a pollinator garden ad hoc could be added to next month’s agenda for further consideration. No formal vote or financial commitment was taken at the meeting.

If approved in the future, the project leaders said they expect to supply donated soil, plants, tools and labor and to maintain the garden with volunteers and partner organizations.