Should we put power outlets in our HOA park?

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

We are converting a portion of our park from a playground to a picnic area, for people to use picnicing, stuyding for class, gatherings, etc. One thing I am considering is installing power outlets in this park so people can charge laptops, cell phones, etc. Wondering if folks here think that would be a good idea?

Upside is more functionality. Downside is a little more maintenance (small concern) but also might attract non-residents (transients, vagrants, homeless) to our park since power is available for charging their cell phones. We are relatively remote but recently did have a couple living in their van start parking in our streets overnight.

Any thoughts about providing power to folks via outlets? I'm not concerned about the cost of power. It's a few bucks a year at most.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

I'm curious, how do you give advice on this site, yet, you have no clue how to run your own?

MarkM19 (Texas)
Posts: 1,459

Posted:

Max,
I must admit that I agree with you. I have never seen anyone ask more questions in the 12 years I have been on this blog.

I keep waiting for him to ask for dinner ideas.

DouglasK1 (Florida)
Posts: 2,046

Posted:

Have there been a lot of homeowner requests for this new amenity? If not, I would table this unless and until there is significant owner desire for it.

Escaped former treasurer and director of a self managed association.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By DouglasK1 on 08/03/2022 10:47 AM
Have there been a lot of homeowner requests for this new amenity? If not, I would table this unless and until there is significant owner desire for it.

No, it's just my idea. It's way cheaper putting it in now than later, but I suppose we could simply install a sleeve under the concrete and then if homeowners ask for this later we could put one in. I'm excited for the feature but concerned that it might raise too many eyebrows. I think we'll pass.

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Why should the owners pay for other peoples electricity use? That would be a big NO from me.
We had someone bring a large karaoke machine to the pool that caused a disturbance to people that
did not care for that genre of music so we turned off that breaker.

The Idea is nice, but if people want power, let them buy a portable solar panel and a battery
to power their things, this is something that the HOA should not provide.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

We have a lot of power outlets in our underground garage levels, but had to lock 'm as resident sere using them to charge large items and running cords along the floor. Agree whole assn. shouldn't have to pay for the convenience of a few.

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 10:09 AM
We are converting a portion of our park from a playground to a picnic area, for people to use picnicing, stuyding for class, gatherings, etc. One thing I am considering is installing power outlets in this park so people can charge laptops, cell phones, etc. Wondering if folks here think that would be a good idea?

Upside is more functionality. Downside is a little more maintenance (small concern) but also might attract non-residents (transients, vagrants, homeless) to our park since power is available for charging their cell phones. We are relatively remote but recently did have a couple living in their van start parking in our streets overnight.

Any thoughts about providing power to folks via outlets? I'm not concerned about the cost of power. It's a few bucks a year at most.

Take all these excess funds you have and get a PM with more hours.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnT38 on 08/03/2022 1:26 PM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 10:09 AM
We are converting a portion of our park from a playground to a picnic area, for people to use picnicing, stuyding for class, gatherings, etc. One thing I am considering is installing power outlets in this park so people can charge laptops, cell phones, etc. Wondering if folks here think that would be a good idea?

Upside is more functionality. Downside is a little more maintenance (small concern) but also might attract non-residents (transients, vagrants, homeless) to our park since power is available for charging their cell phones. We are relatively remote but recently did have a couple living in their van start parking in our streets overnight.

Any thoughts about providing power to folks via outlets? I'm not concerned about the cost of power. It's a few bucks a year at most.

Take all these excess funds you have and get a PM with more hours.

Homeowners prefer I work for free rather than paying a property manager for more time.

MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 501

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnT38 on 08/03/2022 1:26 PM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 10:09 AM
We are converting a portion of our park from a playground to a picnic area, for people to use picnicing, stuyding for class, gatherings, etc. One thing I am considering is installing power outlets in this park so people can charge laptops, cell phones, etc. Wondering if folks here think that would be a good idea?

Upside is more functionality. Downside is a little more maintenance (small concern) but also might attract non-residents (transients, vagrants, homeless) to our park since power is available for charging their cell phones. We are relatively remote but recently did have a couple living in their van start parking in our streets overnight.

Any thoughts about providing power to folks via outlets? I'm not concerned about the cost of power. It's a few bucks a year at most.

Take all these excess funds you have and get a PM with more hours.

Homeowners prefer I work for free rather than paying a property manager for more time.

MaxB4
Posts: 3,513

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 1:43 PM

Posted By JohnT38 on 08/03/2022 1:26 PM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 10:09 AM
We are converting a portion of our park from a playground to a picnic area, for people to use picnicing, stuyding for class, gatherings, etc. One thing I am considering is installing power outlets in this park so people can charge laptops, cell phones, etc. Wondering if folks here think that would be a good idea?

Upside is more functionality. Downside is a little more maintenance (small concern) but also might attract non-residents (transients, vagrants, homeless) to our park since power is available for charging their cell phones. We are relatively remote but recently did have a couple living in their van start parking in our streets overnight.

Any thoughts about providing power to folks via outlets? I'm not concerned about the cost of power. It's a few bucks a year at most.

Take all these excess funds you have and get a PM with more hours.

Homeowners prefer I work for free rather than paying a property manager for more time.

Then, that's your problem!

LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009

Posted:

Who's going to pay for that electricity and also repairs to the outlets when they get damaged? It's a nice idea to supply electricity for speakers so residents can have music - but is that going to bother the neighbors? Do you have noise restrictions? Or what rules do you have on people plugging in an electric generator or running an extension cord somewhere? What are you going to do about vandalism? Are you going to keep the outlets locked to prevent accidents with children?

If you decide to do this you need to 1) think about the purpose of this new park and 2) think about why the people using it would need electricity and 3) set and publish the rules for use in advance.

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 1:43 PM

Posted By JohnT38 on 08/03/2022 1:26 PM

Posted By MichaelT21 on 08/03/2022 10:09 AM
We are converting a portion of our park from a playground to a picnic area, for people to use picnicing, stuyding for class, gatherings, etc. One thing I am considering is installing power outlets in this park so people can charge laptops, cell phones, etc. Wondering if folks here think that would be a good idea?

Upside is more functionality. Downside is a little more maintenance (small concern) but also might attract non-residents (transients, vagrants, homeless) to our park since power is available for charging their cell phones. We are relatively remote but recently did have a couple living in their van start parking in our streets overnight.

Any thoughts about providing power to folks via outlets? I'm not concerned about the cost of power. It's a few bucks a year at most.

Take all these excess funds you have and get a PM with more hours.

Homeowners prefer I work for free rather than paying a property manager for more time.

Let me correct your last reply. "My ego prefers I work for free rather than paying for a property manager for more time."

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

I would not put free power outlets in the park.

I think the cons outweigh the pros.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

I think it should be easy to come up with a better way to spend the money.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

The ONLY reason we installed exterior outlet is for our lighting for our flag pole. It is a "rule" when flying an American flag if you do not put take it put it up/down every day, it has to have a light on it. No one is going to go out everyday to raise and lower the flag. Otherwise there was no need to have an exterior outlet for general use.

Former HOA President

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

I think adding power outlets and options during a planned upgrade makes sense, Michael.

BillD16 (Texas)
Posts: 971

Posted:

I didn’t think much of this idea at first, but I got to doing some reading …

I like to think (and
the sooner the better!)
of a cybernetic meadow
where mammals and computers
live together in mutually
programming harmony
like pure water
touching clear sky.

I like to think
(right now, please!)
of a cybernetic forest
filled with pines and electronics
where deer stroll peacefully
past computers
as if they were flowers
with spinning blossoms.

I like to think
(it has to be!)
of a cybernetic ecology
where we are free of our labors
and joined back to nature,
returned to our mammal
brothers and sisters,
and all watched over
by machines of loving grace.

- “All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace” by Richard Brautigan

So don’t call it a picnic area. Call it “a cybernetic ecology where we are free of our labors and joined back to nature”. It sounds like an easy sell.

BillD

HOA Board ex-President
Austin, Texas USA

“You can’t put too much water in a nuclear reactor”

JohnM102 (Arizona)
Posts: 24

Posted:

It's a thoughtful idea that can only go wrong. Definite no from me.