“The knoll” property at 9400 La Jolla Farms Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 was used by the general public for coastal access long prior to the property’s ownership by UCSD that began in 1967. Prior to that transfer of ownership, the knoll was owned by William Black and was an undeveloped portion of his La Jolla Farms development. Access to the knoll from 9400 La Jolla Farms Road began in 1956 when that road was constructed by Black and was marked by the beginning of a side road that was never built.
The Knoll was accessed by the public for its blufftop ocean views, its clear view of surf conditions at Black’s Beach, and its direct trail access to Black’s Beach via an informal bluffside trail and the historical Sumner Canyon trail. This open public use of the knoll continued throughout the remainder of Black’s ownership of the property, was without Black’s permission, was presumably known by Black due to the clear signs of significant public use, and was without any known attempt by Black to prevent or halt public use.
As a longtime La Jollan, I personally know the above to be true and personally used the knoll property myself during the period of William Black’s ownership, and I did so from the location of the current Scripps Coastal Reserve gate (built by UCSD in 2012) at 9400 La Jolla Farms Road.
