Basketball Goals

Started by GeorgeR11 • 5 replies • 2268 views

💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in

GeorgeR11 (New Jersey)
Posts: 9

Posted:

A fellow Board member has asked me to pose a question to yall. How does your community treat both common area basketball goals and those that belong to homeowners?

The common area basketball courts have been subject to excessive vandalism in recent months - locks and fences cut, trash everywhere, lights shot out (BB gun). We have also become aware that at night, the courts attracts individuals from outside our neighborhood. The Board has been going through period of removing the goals only to reinstall them after a few months when homeowners complain.

We are considering permanently removing the basketball goals and converting the area to another tennis court. We have one tennis court that is appropriately used and does not attract the problems that our basketball court does. We do have deed restrictions when it comes to homeowners' portable basketball goals but have allowed their use if they are appropriately moved off the street and kept well-maintained. We do not allow permanent/installed basketball goals.

The Board is weighing our options and would appreciate any input. Several of the Board members emphasize the common area basketball courts keep kids of the street - but I disagree to some extent with this generalization.

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219

Posted:

Never lived in an HOA that had basketball courts so cannot help you there. We allow the portable which are supposed to be put away after use (sometimes a kid forgets once in awhile) but overall no issues.

Is the other tennis court near the basketball court? I was wondering if you changed whether you might still have the issue because of where it is located.

WalterM3 (Georgia)
Posts: 442

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GeorgeR11 on 02/10/2017 5:52 AM
A fellow Board member has asked me to pose a question to yall. How does your community treat both common area basketball goals and those that belong to homeowners?

The common area basketball courts have been subject to excessive vandalism in recent months - locks and fences cut, trash everywhere, lights shot out (BB gun). We have also become aware that at night, the courts attracts individuals from outside our neighborhood. The Board has been going through period of removing the goals only to reinstall them after a few months when homeowners complain.

We are considering permanently removing the basketball goals and converting the area to another tennis court. We have one tennis court that is appropriately used and does not attract the problems that our basketball court does. We do have deed restrictions when it comes to homeowners' portable basketball goals but have allowed their use if they are appropriately moved off the street and kept well-maintained. We do not allow permanent/installed basketball goals.

The Board is weighing our options and would appreciate any input. Several of the Board members emphasize the common area basketball courts keep kids of the street - but I disagree to some extent with this generalization.

Our covenants prohibit any basketball goals in the common area at al:

(q) Recreational and Playground Equipment. No recreational or playground equipment shall be placed or installed upon any Lot or on the Common Area without the express prior written consent of the Board of Directors or the ASC [architectural standards committee]."

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Our community had one. It was built before I moved here, and as you said, it soon became a magnet for people who lived in and out of the community. They would play basketball all night long, there was noise, and since the area wasn't fenced in, soon some people began spraying graffiti on it. The Board had taken down the net by the time I moved here, but the pole stayed around a little longer until that came down.

It took a few more years until we broke up the cement area - had to do that because it didn't look good and then one neighbor brought a portable basketball goal for his kids, but would leave it out there and then everyone else began showing up. With the cement base gone, there was no place for him to use it and so that was that.

As far as your community is concerned, I'd do a poll asking who wants to keep the goals vs. replacing it was something else - or just spreading out some grass (like we did). You should tell people how much it's cost to deal with the vandalism and note that their assessments will have to be increased accordingly to cover it. I'd also have a chat with the kids in your community - you don't let other people come into your house and trash it, so if they want the basketball goal to stay, they need to make it clear to their friends and neighbors you can't behave any way you want. You'd be surprised who can happen when kids are empowered to police themselves.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Sheila's advice & experiences look helpful, George!

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

We have the same problem in a neighboring HOA. There is an apartment complex that is adjacent to both of our HOA's, the residents from the apartment complex have repeatedly broken our vehicle entry and exit gates, trespass in our community to scale the wall to the HOA with the basketball courts.
That HOA has responded increasingly by adding 16' fences, key access to the courts and finally adding fence extensions between our community.

I really don't like the tall fences and the fence extensions because it makes the property look like a prison, but it is the necessary action to take
to keep undesirables off your property.

🎯 You've read this entire discussion

Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:

✓ Ask follow-up questions
✓ Share your experience
✓ Get expert advice
✓ Access 350,000 discussions

Create Free Account →

⚡ Takes 30 seconds

Already a member? Log in here