Creating a Nice Neighborhood: Your Part

In the summer of 2022 Oaklawn Park was in bad shape. We had weeds growing in the streets. In front of homes we had weeds growing waist high. Trees and shrubs were overgrown and out of shape. The walls of our buildings were covered in green growth.

We spent fall of 2022 and all of 2023 trying to recover in the HOA's areas of responsibility for making the neighborhood look better. Shrubs were trimmed. Weeds were removed. Trees were trimmed. Power washing of the buildings was completed. Dead shrubs were removed. The HOA board has had and will be having more trees planted in 2023 and 2024. We're working toward other visual improvements to the neighborhood including more landscaping plans for 2025.

Now we turn to you, the residents of Oaklawn Park, to do your part to improve the neighborhood. The owner of each condo is responsible for maintaining the immediate area outside their condo. The owner is completely responsible for maintaining anything added by the current resident of the condo or any previous resident of that condo. That includes, but is not limited to, any fences built, any trees/shrubs planted, any flower beds added, any mulch or rocks added, any outdoor furniture and decorations added by a current or previous resident of that condo. The owner of each condo is completely responsible for maintaining the condition/quality of any and all of those items.

If the owner of a condo is not maintaining any of these items, PMI and the Oaklawn Park board will be reaching out to ask them to fix this problem. If the problem area is not then fixed by the owner, the owner will be offered a hearing with the board. If it is determined then that the problem still needs to be resolved, and the owner does not act, the HOA will have the services completed to fix the problem area. The owner of that condo will then be billed by the HOA to pay for the services needed to have the problem situation/area updated.

The goal is to create a better neighborhood for you and your family. The board, within the funds approved by the property owners, is trying to do our part in improving the neighborhood. There is only so much we can do though if residents don't also do their part to maintain their immediate area around their home. One owner allowing weeds/shrubs/trees to grow wild can ruin an entire area of the neighborhood for everyone else. One fence leaning over or rotting looking terrible can ruin the enjoyment of the neighborhood for everyone around them.

If you are renting and believe your landlord is responsible for maintaining these items for you, and they are not doing so, contact your landlord with this information to remind them that as the owner, they are responsible. If they don't respond, contact PMI to let them know. You deserve to live in a well-kept home. We will help you make that so.

If you are the owner and you have a fence that needs repair, weeds or shrubs that are overgrown, or anything needing maintained, PMI will be reaching out to you to let you know of the problem area. If you take no action, you will be offered a hearing with the board. If the board believes you are not willing/able to act, the board will ask PMI to have the services done to fix the problem area. PMI and the board will then bill you to pay for those services completed.

We want this to be a place that is nice for residents to live. Where children can enjoy playing in the neighborhood. Where you can be proud to have friends and family visit.

Also please feel free to plant flowers and shrubs to beautify your immediate area. We have some residents with some lovely rose bushes and flowers around their homes. As a long time resident of the community, every time I take a walk I appreciate very much those in our community who take the time to care and add beauty to the community. Thank you.

• Kyle Thompson Oaklawn Park HOA Board President