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Closing of Broadlands Amenities

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by The Broadlands Community, Mar 23, 2020.

  1. The Broadlands Community

    The Broadlands Community Well-Known Member

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    Due to the rapidly evolving coronavirus crisis, effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Broadlands amenities including the Fitness Center, tot lots, and basketball and tennis courts will be closed until further notice as part of the community’s response to COVID-19. The playgrounds and athletic courts have experienced heavier than normal use recently, impacting the ability of residents to maintain social distancing measures recommended. Fencing will be erected at features affected by this closure and residents are urged to adhere to any closure notices.

    Our many trails remain open and we encourage residents to make use of the walking and biking trails while observing proper social distancing guidelines. We also have many ponds including the Nature Center, Bullfrog, Burnt Hickory, Community Center, and Broadlands Station, which are good sites for catch and release fishing, bird watching, and general outdoor exploration. Hillside Park is an ideal place for picnicking in good weather or you may want to check out the native plants in the demo garden located on Ridgeway Drive across from Inglewood Court. Though not owned or maintained by the HOA, the Van Metre Nature Preserve boardwalk across from the Southern Walk shopping plaza is another good site for observing nature.

    We thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these difficult times. Be well and we look forward to the reopening of these amenities when it is again safe to do so.

    Broadlands Association, Inc.
     
    pra2464, momof03, Tech91 and 2 others like this.
  2. Silly Yak

    Silly Yak Member

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    It is sad that because people can't control themselves money and time need to be spent on fencing.
     
  3. Nancy Yu

    Nancy Yu New Member

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    Because kids and parents are not taking social distancing seriously, the homeowners have to pay for fencing around our amenities. So much for a nice looking community. I live a block from the Southern Walk pool and after the pool has closed, I hear kids in the pool. How do they get there?? CLIMB THE FENCE. This action will push more people to the elementary and middle schools to use their playgrounds and basketball courts. Who's bright idea was this??
     
  4. Tech91

    Tech91 Member

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    Yes, it is unfortunate that people can not be responsible and heed the warning of congregating on playgrounds. I commend the HOA for being responsible and taking the health of their homeowners serious. It is not only a problem of congregation though...it is also kids all touching the same playground surfaces that we know are not being disinfected. Preliminary research shows that COVID-19 can last on plastic and metal for up to 3 days...the materials of which our play structures are made.

    Please read the article posted on Loudoun County's Official Website...
    https://www.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts...B0dAe9WzsZMuq_Wtx21jw2S7dwwC5cJhHj6oVXLAG_xFE

    In the article it states that as of 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24 "All Virginia K-12 schools will remain closed through the end of this academic year and all Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) campuses and facilities (including all playgrounds, athletic fields and courts) are also closed to the public at this time. LCPS facilities have experienced heavier than normal use in recent days, impacting the ability of residents to maintain the social-distancing measures that are recommended to slow the spread of the virus.

    Signs pertaining to the closures have been posted on LCPS campuses and residents must adhere to all such notices. In addition, county park features that include playgrounds and athletic courts are closed. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) may charge individuals or groups with trespass if they are improperly or illegally on county-owned property or facilities where “No Trespassing” signs are properly posted.

    LCSO, with authorization from the respective Homeowners Association (HOA), may enforce “No Trespassing” on HOA-owned property, including playgrounds, basketball courts or other athletic facilities where signs are posted that these areas are closed."

    So, don't blame the HOA for unattractive fencing and the cost associated with purchasing it and installing it. But rather, thank them for helping to keep your family healthy and blame your neighbors who can not #STAYHOME!
     
    pra2464, momof03 and Mr. Linux like this.
  5. kevinq

    kevinq Member

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    Closing the playgrounds was likely a tough decision for the HOA, but as parent one that I wholeheartedly support. Schools are closed to create social distance among children to reduce infection rates. It defeats the purpose to close schools if groups of kids just move from the classroom to neighborhood playgrounds. Healthy children are not at the greatest risk for COVID-19, but they can spread it to more vulnerable populations. We need to follow the guidance from those knowledgeable in the topic to slow the spread of infection.
     
    momof03, Mr. Linux and Tech91 like this.
  6. momof03

    momof03 Member

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    Just want to add as an RN that I am supportive of the HOA’s actions and appreciate that they are taking the Governor’s mandates seriously. I actually saw on a previous post in this forum that there was a group of 16 people at one of the Broadland’s playgrounds, and the group stayed there for hours! This virus is in our community, and according to most news articles, it’s 10x more prevalent than is being reported due to lack of testing. Unfortunately, we can’t count on people doing the right thing by socially distancing themselves and their kids. And please don’t let your teens go to the middle school and high school courts either, that’s not the point!
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2020
    pra2464, Mr. Linux and Tech91 like this.
  7. Rhaegar

    Rhaegar Member

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    "Gotta keep 'em separated"
    -- The Offspring.
     
    Mike likes this.
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    That's our theme song at work! (Air Traffic Control).
     
  9. poolabab

    poolabab Resident

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    I still saw so many people playing Tennis over the weekend at Nature center courts
     
  10. Tech91

    Tech91 Member

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    These people can (and should) be fined. See my post above. Call the LCSO if you see it again. They have predicted that 200,000 Americans will die if we play everything perfectly which clearly we are not.
     
  11. kevinq

    kevinq Member

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    Then you should be enraged that the homeowners have to pay for the vandalism that is now occurring because people are tearing down the fencing that the HOA installed to keep our neighborhood safe. Clearly, if you see someone playing on the HOA tennis courts, basketball courts, or on the playgrounds, they are trespassing.
     
  12. Nancy Yu

    Nancy Yu New Member

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    I neglected to update my original post. I emailed our HOA President last week with my concerns about fencing around the playgrounds and basketball courts. I thought they were going to put up metal fencing like our pools. She explained that is not the case and it will be removed when safe to do so. Once the fencing was up, I see that it was a genius plan. I have seen no children on the playground and only saw one person trying to use the basketball court. The fencing is working at the Southern Walk pool.
    Stay SAFE everyone and we will get through this TOGETHER!!!
     
    Mike likes this.
  13. Excelsior

    Excelsior Southern Walk||IMPERIUM IN IMPERIO||

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    Does anyone know if there are plans to open the pools this summer and if so, when? Phase 2 of Governor's plan?
     
  14. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

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    Is the HOA aware that the CDC revised the mortality rate of CV19 today? It is now .0005 for healthy people 49 years of age and below. I understand the models in March were much worse, so we closed everything but they are wrong. Time to let the young go out and play. People with health concerns can stay indoors. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html
     
    alg and Matt like this.
  15. Matt

    Matt Member

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    Given the HOA’s decision to keep Broadlands amenities closed until Virginia begins this arbitrary ‘ Phase 2', I assume all the homeowners will be getting sizeable refunds for the money we pay for the pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, etc. When can we expect those refunds? If not, residents here and in other communities who are being denied their rights, should start to legally challenge these authoritarian rulings.
     
    PDILLM likes this.
  16. kevinq

    kevinq Member

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    To copy from an esteemed member's post in another thread: "Welcome! Great first post." Just a reminder to adhere to Virginia's face mask policy that begins tomorrow. Stay Safe!
     
    PDILLM likes this.
  17. Steve Campot

    Steve Campot Broadlands Real Estate Broker

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  18. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Are you serious or being facetious?

    I don’t even support this.

    Whether if it’s open or not, we all have to pay for maintenance of the said facilities and amenities. If you decide to legally challenge this, you will surely lose and will have to pay the association for defending themselves against a frivolous lawsuit. Think about it- if every business wanted to challenge the Governor for closing down, they all would lose in court as well. There would be no way they’d get any money from the govt to cover their expenses they have incurred. Our taxes would go way way way up if we had to pay every single business. HOAs are different...everyone own a piece of the HOA when you bought the house...therefore, everyone pays whether it’s available or not for use. If it rains, you don’t get to use the pool...its closed and you don’t get a refund either....if you don’t use it in good weather, you don’t get a refund either.

    So there.

    Don’t like it? Why not move to The Villages of Waxpool and buy a house there with its own pool...their HOA fees are much smaller and you won’t have to complain about getting a refund but you’ll still have maintenance fees year round anyway...you still lose anyway — unless you move out to a farm with zero pools and no HOA.
     
  19. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Hint: see Keving's post.
     
  20. Matt

    Matt Member

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