Did You Know? Your Assessment Supports More Than Just Parks
When you think about what the Parkwood East HOA maintains, our neighborhood parks might be the first things that come to mind. The truth of it is that really our parks are only part of the whole picture. Parkwood East is responsible for approximately 12 acres of shared property throughout our community. That includes not only our parks and playgrounds, but trails, pathways, green spaces, and other common property woven throughout the neighborhood. Caring for all of that takes a combination of homeowner assessments, professional services and quite a bit of volunteer elbow grease.
Where Your Assessment Goes
Your annual assessment provides the financial foundation for caring for our community. Those funds support: grounds maintenance, tree care, repairs and improvements, insurance, utilities, professional services, administrative expenses, and the ongoing upkeep of the parks, trails, playgrounds, pathways, and green spaces under the HOA's care.
Some of that work is easy to see while other expenses are much less visible. Hazardous tree removal is a good example. So far this year, Parkwood East has professionally removed 19 hazardous trees, with our groundskeeper addressing several additional trees as part of regular grounds maintenance. It may not be the most exciting improvement to photograph, but managing hazardous trees protects our neighboring properties and the people who use them.
Then There's the Sweat Equity
Alongside the work we pay for, something else has been happening throughout Parkwood East. Our Board and community volunteers have contributed more than 175 hours of volunteer time so far this year. We've averaged approximately two volunteer work parties each month since February, tackling projects throughout our community.
So far, those efforts have helped us:
Contribute 175+ volunteer hours
Save an estimated $3,518 in labor costs
Remove approximately 7 cubic yards of invasive plant material
Complete 2 community improvement projects
Support additional projects that are still underway
And we're not finished yet!
Why That Matters
Volunteer labor doesn't replace the contractors and professionals we rely on. There are plenty of jobs we shouldn't attempt ourselves too. Instead, volunteering helps us be strategic about where we spend our limited resources. When volunteers can safely handle invasive plant removal, cleanup, planting, site preparation, or other appropriate work we can reserve more of our assessment dollars for professional work. Like a professional tree service, major repairs, specialized contractors, and the other expenses we can't reasonably tackle ourselves. That's the real power of sweat equity! Our $3,518 in estimated labor savings represents money that didn't have to be spent hiring someone else to accomplish that same work. In a small association, those savings really add up.
More Than a Number on a Dues Statement
It's easy for an annual assessment to feel like just another bill. But those dollars, and the volunteer hours contributed alongside them, are being turned into something tangible throughout Parkwood East. They're helping maintain and improve approximately 12 acres of property. They're addressing hazardous trees and restoring areas affected by invasive plants. They're supporting our parks, trails and playgrounds. They're funding professional work when we need it and giving volunteers the resources to tackle projects when we don't.
Individually, they can seem like small things. Together, they're how we take care of the place we all call home. And with 175+ volunteer hours, $3,518 in estimated labor savings, and counting, there's plenty more still to come.