Kids banned from playing outside at Wellington community (Manassas: apartment complex, renters)

[BooYong10]

Hello!
I would like to get some advice on a matter that is going on the community I live. Recently the HOA sent out letters to the residents of the community saying that kids should only be allow to play in the "tot lot" or playground that is the neighborhood. Only problem is that there is only one and well there is lots and lots of kids in the neighborhood from different ages.

The note also says that they can't ride their bicycle, scooters or do anything that could make noise and disturbed the neighbors, I do understand there are time when kids are loud but most of these times are actually teens that ones making the noises. Is there anything that can be do? Is this right to do against kids? I don't think is fair that the children on the community have to pay for what other kids had done.

Please any advice will be appreciate and if you are a parent thinking on buying or moving to the Manassas area do not look in the Wellington community.

[tgbwc]

Is this a condo community? If it is a community of detached homes, I wouldn't think they could restrict play in your own yard.

What is the exact text (of at least a portion) of the letter?

[BooYong10]

Yes it is a condo community.
The note says: there have been numerous children from this community playing ball in the parking lot and sidewalks area, hiding under cars, riding the bikes through units backyards and making lots of noise throughout the community.
. The governing documents state that children are to play on the tot lot and there is a noise control in place for this community. Please have the children play in the tot lot and remind them to reduce their noise level when not at the tot lot.

[kww]

Originally Posted by BooYong10

Hello!
I would like to get some advice on a matter that is going on the community I live. Recently the HOA sent out letters to the residents of the community saying that kids should only be allow to play in the "tot lot" or playground that is the neighborhood. Only problem is that there is only one and well there is lots and lots of kids in the neighborhood from different ages.

The note also says that they can't ride their bicycle, scooters or do anything that could make noise and disturbed the neighbors, I do understand there are time when kids are loud but most of these times are actually teens that ones making the noises. Is there anything that can be do? Is this right to do against kids? I don't think is fair that the children on the community have to pay for what other kids had done.

Please any advice will be appreciate and if you are a parent thinking on buying or moving to the Manassas area do not look in the Wellington community.

Originally Posted by BooYong10

Yes it is a condo community.
The note says: there have been numerous children from this community playing ball in the parking lot and sidewalks area, hiding under cars, riding the bikes through units backyards and making lots of noise throughout the community.
. The governing documents state that children are to play on the tot lot and there is a noise control in place for this community. Please have the children play in the tot lot and remind them to reduce their noise level when not at the tot lot.

Sadly, this about sums it up...

Daily, I avoid 3-4 kids riding bikes, skateboards, or running into traffic between cars (not in Wellington, but in another HOA run community)..

I imagine, that in my community (and possibly Wellington), a lot of these kids are in homes that are being rented, and as such, the parents may not have been given the opportunity to review the governing docs prior to accepting a lease (or just ignore those rules).

If a portion of these parents purchased these homes, then they would have had a chance to review the CCRs prior to settlement and *should* have seen the verbiage about playing in tot lots etc only.. At that point, not much leg to stand on imo.

[Bigfoot424]

Very tough to enforce but I understand what the HOA is doing. I have family that lives in Wellington (townhomes) and the number of kids playing in the streets is astounding at times when it's nice outside. But they are just being kids and when you have limited places to play you can't expect different.

[purpleprincess22]

My apartment complex sent out a similar letter last year. It really cut down on the number of kids playing ball in the street and hitting cars (and the number of kids who would run behind backing out cars in order to get their stupid balls). I don't think there is much you can do since you live in a condo community.

[spleuchan]

Saying kids can't play outside is beyond ridiculous. I'd contact a local news station and see if they are interested in the story.

[ChristineVA]

So your thread title is a little misleading. The HOA hasn't banned them from playing 'outside' correct? Since it is a condo community, it has banned them from "playing ball in the parking lot and sidewalks area, hiding under cars, riding the bikes through units backyards and making lots of noise throughout the community."

I don't know, I think it is entirely reasonable. I spent the first 10 years of my life living in an apartment complex, where there were lots of kids. It never occurred to me or my friends (and certainly our parents would have been mortified) to play in the parking lot (dangerous and you can dent/scratch people's cars), hide under cars (REALLY?), and ride bikes through people's yards. Obviously there's a group of kids just running rampant and it would irritate me, as a resident, to no end. There have GOT to be some common areas besides a tot lot that would be more conducive to hanging out.

[BooYong10]

Well the thread going on the neighborhood website is that the kids should not be allowed to play out and because of these complaints HOA and the community management took action as dictating this. Since this notice was sent there hasn't been any kids out, drivers are speeding because they no longer have to worry about kids playing out.

I see their point but at the same time many renters or home owners have kids that still not in college or high schools and school is going to end soon. What are they supposed to do? Watch tv all day? Stay inside and do nothing? When my kids were younger they played outside ith the rest of the neighbors' kids and when a car came near they would scream 'car' for them to moved out of the way and we never had any of this problems. First the complaint about pets, now kids and I wonder what else would they complaint next.

[kww]

Originally Posted by BooYong10

Well the thread going on the neighborhood website is that the kids should not be allowed to play out and because of these complaints HOA and the community management took action as dictating this. Since this notice was sent there hasn't been any kids out, drivers are speeding because they no longer have to worry about kids playing out.

I see their point but at the same time many renters or home owners have kids that still not in college or high schools and school is going to end soon. What are they supposed to do? Watch tv all day? Stay inside and do nothing? When my kids were younger they played outside ith the rest of the neighbors' kids and when a car came near they would scream 'car' for them to moved out of the way and we never had any of this problems. First the complaint about pets, now kids and I wonder what else would they complaint next.

Sadly, this doesn't happen everywhere. All it takes is little Jimmy who's new to riding a bike to wobble between two parked cars and get clipped by a passing motorist.. Then, the association gets to dip into their reserve funds to fight a lawsuit from the hurt childs parent because the association is not doing a good enough job enforcing the bylaws that are stated in the CCRs..

Surely the neighborhood has grassy areas to play, and/or some paved areas (tennis court/basketball court when not in use) that motorists don't travel on that kids can learn to ride their bikes on.

Hell, none of the kids I see on bikes in my neighborhood even have helmets, as its likely uncool