2007 May
2007 May Vol. 5, No. 5
Focus on...Recreational Amenities & Programs
Smart Amenity Management
In many New Jersey homeowners associations and condos, amenities are an integral part of a community, offering improved quality of life, recreational enjoyment and convenience. Popular amenities such as clubhouses or pools can create a sense of community, bringing residents together socially. Fitness rooms and tennis courts provide on-site recreational facilities for residents who might otherwise have to travel to a gym and incur the expense of hefty membership fees. These perks, however, also carry risk of serious injury. Does your community have an accident waiting to happen? Read More
Building Community Within HOAs
One irony of modern life is that being in close proximity to your neighbors doesn't necessarily make you closer to your neighbors. At best, people might know just a handful of neighbors in their community. Many of us lead hectic lives, and justify our lack of community involvement by saying we just have too little time. Time is an issue, no doubt about it, but there are good reasons to add a little involvement to your "to-do" list. Indeed, connecting and socializing with your neighbors can be much more useful than it appears. Read More
The National Recreation and Park Association
The modest mission of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)"—"To advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people"—belies the complexity of the organization itself: its unique structure, its rich history, its impressive successes, and its ambitions for the future. Read More
The Value of Play Space in HOAs
You don't have to be the parent of a young child to notice that playgrounds aren't what they used to be. Swings may still be a staple, but jungle gyms, teeter-totters and clay or gravel surfaces have gone the way of The Brady Bunch and metal strap-on roller skates. Concern over safety was just one factor in their extinction. As new generations refine our ideas of what makes something fun, designers are looking to incorporate newer ideas about child development into everyday play equipment. Read More
When Amenities Lose Their Luster
A good amenity gives a condo community its flash, its panache. It's the all-important detail that sets one community apart from another, and turns a set of structures into a set of homes. Over time, though, even the best amenity, the one that held everyone rapt and engaged ten years ago, can lose its luster and begin the slow descent into disuse. When a condo community finds itself face to face with an aging amenity that no longer seems attractive to residents, the board may be faced with a tough decision: can we rejuvenate or is it time to try something else? Read More
Next-Generation Playground Equipment
Back when most of us were little kids, playground equipment largely consisted of a swing-set here, some teeter-totters there, a merry-go-round, a metal slide (which was often scorching hot—and unusable—in the summer sun), some monkey bars, a few basketball hoops and perhaps a tetherball pole. Read More
Managing for Recreation
Every community has certain amenities or assets that residents value highly. In some communities, those features are extra parking areas, bike paths or "tot lots." In others, golf courses and restaurants are the way communities identify their unique appeal. Regardless of the amenity, the focus is always on lifestyle, quality of life and recreational and social opportunity. Read More
Q&A: Absent Voter Legislation
Is there any legislation in New Jersey concerning “delegate voting” in common interest communities? If so, why was the legislation enacted? What is the distinction between “delegate voting” and “voting by proxy?” Read More
Q&A: Corrupt Management
We’ve had problems with a corrupt management in the past. I’m suspicious of our current management and several board members receiving kickbacks from vendors. Are there any steps that I can take to find out if this is repetition of our previous managing company and possibly board members participating in kickbacks? Read More
