Opinion: Tree-climbing prohibition over the top

I am a long-time resident of La Jolla. All of a sudden this weekend two signs went up at the Cove that said that children, (or anyone else for that matter), cannot climb on the trees anymore. There is no code reference on the signs — just plain white signs.

I think it is important to point out that my grandfather climbed on these trees at the Cove when he was a young boy. My mother climbed on the trees at the Cove when she was young, as did I. Now my children have been banned. What a tragedy! Children have been climbing on these trees for a hundred years and without any damage to the trees or to themselves (other than a few occasional scrapes here and there). The attached picture of some unknown children on Thanksgiving Day says it all.

The war on childhood, written about in the Wall Street Journal last week, has now extended to one of our most cherished La Jolla memories. Is there no end to the political correctness of our time? First, we made it practically impossible for children to use The “Children’s” Pool as our rapidly declining legal system acted contrary to the clearest possible existing laws and trust indentures. Now are going to take one of the last remaining pleasures from our children and grandchildren and our own enjoyment at their delight in accomplishing the not so formidable task of getting to the next branch?

If getting sued was the root of the city’s abandonment of this 100-year childhood pleasure, perhaps instead they could have simply put on the sign “Climb at Your Own Risk.” While this may seem like a small thing to most adults, the expansion of the “Nanny State “now knows no bounds. Lest we not forget it is really just a small step from here to the abridgement of most of our other cherished freedoms.