Playgrounds reality versus whine

Started by MelissaP1 • 18 replies • 375 views

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MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

It finally hit the new HOA. Someone had to go whining about the lack of playgrounds or parks in the area. They even went so far as to contact parks and recreation in the area. Which to give a clue to the clueless whiner contacted the wrong county and city. We live in a different country but the HOA is split in two cities in two different counties.

Well we pointed out to the person as a new development area that we can not build one in our neighborhood. The city about 10 miles away is in progress of building a really nice park in next 2 years. Also there are several other parks within a 10 to 12 mile area. It is just the nature of the beast where we live that playground are far and in between. Mostly due to funds and lack of use in summer.

Also pointed out there is a church 2 miles or less with a walking trail and small playground open to the area. You also have the option to apply to have a playset in your own yard. My neighbor has one and a trampoline. Also allowed are in ground pools.

This was NOT good enough for the anymonus whiner. They think we should have one for the community. Pointed out again is there is no room for any of these items. Plus you have to install commercial grade equipment. Can not just go to Lowes and put one in. The warranty does not cover.

I am pointing out that hey if you want these things it will cost everyone a few thousand dollar special assessment just to buy and insure. Plus it will add a couple hundred a month to your house payment via dues payments. You have no choice to not pay the money whether used or not. Also subject to a lien or foreclosure for not paying.

I am at point of giving up educating these people. Going to suggest they make their own committee and tell everyone else how they are going to spend everyone's money for them...

You can guess it. I am officially the Karen for common sense and reality check because someone can not drive to a park or ask permission to pay for their own playground equipment.

Former HOA President

PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/03/2024 7:23 AM
It finally hit the new HOA. Someone had to go whining about the lack of playgrounds or parks in the area. They even went so far as to contact parks and recreation in the area. Which to give a clue to the clueless whiner contacted the wrong county and city. We live in a different country but the HOA is split in two cities in two different counties.

Well we pointed out to the person as a new development area that we can not build one in our neighborhood. The city about 10 miles away is in progress of building a really nice park in next 2 years. Also there are several other parks within a 10 to 12 mile area. It is just the nature of the beast where we live that playground are far and in between. Mostly due to funds and lack of use in summer.

Also pointed out there is a church 2 miles or less with a walking trail and small playground open to the area. You also have the option to apply to have a playset in your own yard. My neighbor has one and a trampoline. Also allowed are in ground pools.

This was NOT good enough for the anymonus whiner. They think we should have one for the community. Pointed out again is there is no room for any of these items. Plus you have to install commercial grade equipment. Can not just go to Lowes and put one in. The warranty does not cover.

I am pointing out that hey if you want these things it will cost everyone a few thousand dollar special assessment just to buy and insure. Plus it will add a couple hundred a month to your house payment via dues payments. You have no choice to not pay the money whether used or not. Also subject to a lien or foreclosure for not paying.

I am at point of giving up educating these people. Going to suggest they make their own committee and tell everyone else how they are going to spend everyone's money for them...

You can guess it. I am officially the Karen for common sense and reality check because someone can not drive to a park or ask permission to pay for their own playground equipment.

Oh the whiners. I was on our board for 9 years, six years as President. Had 1 owner insisting that we spend $80,000 to fence in a portion of the community. Tried to reason with them. Didn't work. What did work was pushing back and volunteering the owner to present the board with the research and cost of the fencing. Never again heard a peep.

After that the Board determined that unless there was more than 10%, enough to call a Special Meeting, of the owners clamoring for the issue, we'd just ignore it.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Here is the irony.. I was the President of my HOA and wanted a playground. Did the research and presented to the board/HOA. Guess what? I was shot down by the parents! They did NOT want a playground. Why? Kids outgrow them in a few years. About that time equipment needs replacement. Plus there was a school nearby could go to.

So this is not like have not done the research. These people want the HOA to pay without consideration of people budget or those moving in budget.

I am good with just retention ponds and mowing common areas. All these new young owners just think money comes from the HOA means the developers pay. It does not work that way. So I will tell them to get together and read the fine print on equipment.

Former HOA President

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Yes, everyone on this website who is or has been a board member has come across this stuff a time or two (or three, four, five....)

Since this is a new HOA, one way to look at all this is to assume some (most?) of your neighbors don't have any idea what that really means. It's nice to have fitness centers, pickleball courts, swimming pools and all that, but it costs money to build and maintain them, and the developer won't be around forever. Costs also increase and people never seem to factor that in when it comes to the HOA, despite seeing things in their own household budget go up for all sorts of reasons. I've found the best way to address this is point it out (this is your money and neighborhood too), but after that, sit down and let the others figure it out. They're grown ass people and have to live and learn like the rest of us - even you didn't know everything you know now when you entered HOA land, and are still learning. Personally, I'm trying to give people more grace, just as I'd like some to be dished out to me. That said, if I do have concerns, I will continue to speak up. As I said in another conversation, I know I'm not to everyone's taste and while I'm not trying to hurt one's feelings, I believe in calling a thing a thing as necessary (blame my parents for instilling that in me!)

If you're on the board, you already know the easiest way to deal with this is to simply ask the homeowner to do the research and show the board the numbers. The thought of doing actual work will stop most people, while those who push forward may find some ideas are good but impractical. There's also a chance he/she does come up with something you didn't think of that will work.

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

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Funny story. I have pointed out the costs etc.. several times. A few have scoffed at the expense as if making it up. I do not see stating a Pool and clubhouse would cost $300 K. Factor in cost of land, insurance, pool installation, bathroom, handicap accessibility, parking, and long term cost of maintenance...

So said that alone would be a $1K per home to cough up. The response? That is not much money that everyone can kick in... Uh. Thank you for spending my household money. Plus I never mentioned that may end up monthly dues.

Former HOA President

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

This might not be clear from her post, but Melissa is not on the Board of her current HOA, which is under developer control. For many years. she's not been a board member or a HOA volunteer.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I am still a HOA member who understands how the system works. Stating why wanting playground or amenities is not necessarily the best options.

Former HOA President

MarkM19 (Texas)
Posts: 1,459

Posted:

Kerry,
Thanks for the clarification. That was what I thought but wasn't sure.

Melissa,
If the developer is still in control this should be their mess to deal with and not the owner-controlled boards. The developer still should have the declarants votes and so a majority in most cases. If they choose to pass this on to the owners, they can sell it as a perk to new owners of unsold lots. If they can get it through the city permitting process and the new build specs they can sell it to new owners as a perk. As you mention the land requirements and other issues go over other non-board types heads.

The one point I would make if I was in this debate is the new traffic and use that would come from outside the community by other non-HOA residents that find this playground theirs to use. The liability will become every member of your HOA.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

It does not work like that. The selling point is quite the opposite. It is because there are no amenities except for retention pond is why many bought.

The posters are on the private Facebook page who are whining they NOW want these items. They think we can purchase undeveloped land or better yet the Developers should make it a playground or clubhouse with pool. Let us not forget they want the retention ponds to become real ponds for fishing.

They can NOT get it through their heads that WE pay for these things. The Developers do NOT. It is NOT what they want to do with empty lots. They make money by selling and building. An amenity is not profit making.

Former HOA President

WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522

Posted:

My HOA board replaced a perfectly good 12' tall A frame 6 person swing set with a short 8' tall T frame swing set with only 4 seats.
Then instead of selling the old plyaground equipment for cheap, they paid the company $5000 to remove it.

Just for fun I looked up the cost of a commercial slide and commercial A frame swing set, about $3000 each delivered. Not hard to assemble, nor do they take up much room. So instead of $20,000 for a new playground in the reserves in 20 years I put down $6,000.

People love to spend other people's money.

vis ta vie

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

People think you can get the SAME playground equipment you see at Lowes or those Playground stores. You can NOT. I looked into buying some old Parks and Recreation equipment and swings were over 10K. You have to look at the warranty and use. Plus the materials it's made from. Years ago playground equipment carried high levels of lead. It leached into the ground. Kids would end up getting it in their mouths and get lead poisoning.

It could be they had to pay someone to remove the equipment because it was leaching lead or chemicals. This adds to the cost of removal and cause of removal. I can imagine any equipment over 20 years old could be subject to the lead issues. Can't sell it. Plus would have to dig out the soil where it was a few feet down.

Plus think about the placement. Do you want to hear screaming kids outside your window all day? My neighbors put in a trampoline AND a swing set. The Trampoline full view of my bathroom window. The swing set my back yard. Plus they have 5 kids or more playing.

I am NOT against playgrounds at all and would be first person to get one put in. However, the reality is what it is. Bad idea for a HOA.

Former HOA President

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 06/04/2024 2:37 PM
People think you can get the SAME playground equipment you see at Lowes or those Playground stores. You can NOT. I looked into buying some old Parks and Recreation equipment and swings were over 10K. You have to look at the warranty and use. Plus the materials it's made from. Years ago playground equipment carried high levels of lead. It leached into the ground. Kids would end up getting it in their mouths and get lead poisoning.

It could be they had to pay someone to remove the equipment because it was leaching lead or chemicals. This adds to the cost of removal and cause of removal. I can imagine any equipment over 20 years old could be subject to the lead issues. Can't sell it. Plus would have to dig out the soil where it was a few feet down.

Plus think about the placement. Do you want to hear screaming kids outside your window all day? My neighbors put in a trampoline AND a swing set. The Trampoline full view of my bathroom window. The swing set my back yard. Plus they have 5 kids or more playing.

I am NOT against playgrounds at all and would be first person to get one put in. However, the reality is what it is. Bad idea for a HOA.

Not only that, there are requirements for the type of ground it sits on and type of equipment can install based on the size of the area. We found this out when we replaced our equipment- and our president ended up talking to someone from the parks department and the consumer product safety commission, which regulates this stuff.

We bought a commercial set - only for teenagers and young adults to wreck most of it. It had a trapeze (gone), two or three swings (also gone because wannabe gangbusters wanted the chains for weapons) and the toddler swing (same reason). Today, all that's left us a sliding board and some sort of tower. Eventually it'll have to come down and then the board will have to decide if we get another or say forget it. We have another set of young kids in the community, so that won't be easy, especially since the closest park is a mile away.

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

DeanJ
Posts: 1,786

Posted:

Why would you care what an anonymous whiner has to say?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

It can take one to change a village. Sometimes into a Village of Idiots.

Former HOA President

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Perhaps you should show them links to what happens when an HOA board shirks at their responsibility
to properly inspect and maintain playground equipment.
The Lamplighter Village lawsuits should send a clear message to board members just like Surfiside.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Good idea, LetA. What's bothering Melissa so much, tho', is just fellow owner wanting amenities. This HOA is under developer control and the developer's Board, from what I can gather, does not participate in these non-HOA discussions.

There is, then, no "HOA involvement." Just neighbors yakking.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Yes it is neighbors talking. Plus part of the yak includes "When we take over the HOA". The Developers are basically useless in our HOA. Hands off basically. They hired a cheap and awful MC.

My first plan of business is to change out the MC and make sure we have no amenities added.

Former HOA President

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 06/06/2024 9:29 AM
Good idea, LetA. What's bothering Melissa so much, tho', is just fellow owner wanting amenities. This HOA is under developer control and the developer's Board, from what I can gather, does not participate in these non-HOA discussions.

There is, then, no "HOA involvement." Just neighbors yakking.

It's usually those people that want the moon but don't have a clue at what's behind the BIG picture. Everything adds up, then people are
clamoring for lower assessments.

On the flip side, when we were still under declarant control, myself and a few other owners pointed out to the builder that we have to step into
the landscaping rocks to open the pool gate. Not more than a week later, concrete was poured making the steps 3' wider so people didn't have to
step in the rocks to open the pool gate.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

I've heard that in my HOA when the developer still o controlled, owners got together & petitioned the Developer/his Board to change the paint color of a major exterior common area. It worked! And your example is good, too., LetA.

But in Melissa's case, the owners are just blabbing among themselves.

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