The Board of Directors of the Central Park Owners Association enacts rules and restrictions concerning the use of the Common Elements as it deems necessary and desirable to promote the health, safety, welfare, and appearance of the Property. With that mission in mind, “No Dogs” signs will begin disappearing from Central Park’s campus in the near future.
The BAC Committee and the CPOA Board have reached a consensus on the matter and the new policy is being phased in. The “No Dogs” signs have always been problematic. The existing signs are not consistent with our branding and they receive a lot of wear and tear due to the weekly removal and replacement by our lawn maintenance crews during every mowing cycle.
The decision basically came down to having signs everywhere, or nowhere. The majority favored decluttering our campus, especially rules signs that say NO. The new approach will require residents to familiarize themselves with the Central Park Pet Policy & Site Map, designating dog friendly areas and limiting their dog’s “business” to those areas.
Central Park maintains manicured green spaces, especially near our entrances, for the enjoyment of all owners and their guests; and pets are only permitted on green spaces designated as pet friendly. A major effort has been made to improve the appearance of our lawn and landscaping, but these efforts are often compromised by irresponsible dog owners who ignore the rules.
As an example, new sod has been laid for the third time in two years near the east entrance of the 450 Building. Although one of the “No Dogs” signs was damaged some months ago and never replaced, it has never been designated as a pet friendly area; but now many seem to think it is okay for their dogs. It is not, and a temporary barrier and “No Dogs” sign have been installed to help remind residents that the area is off-limits for dogs. The barrier and sign will likely be removed within 30 days.
These re-sodding efforts could be avoided if all dog owners obeyed the rules. It should be noted that enforcement efforts have been enhanced recently by the installation of more cameras around the campus, and pet policy violators will be fined when caught.
What is the big deal you might ask? Well, the devil is in the details is an appropriate idiom to describe the sometimes mysterious or hidden element that might seem simple at a first look but will take more time and effort to complete or to achieve the desired result. The difference between looking okay and looking great is often no more than a commitment to removing the unsightly 10 to15% in order to fully leverage the 85 to 90% that looks good.
The best news is this… Central Park Residences is a welcoming and pet friendly community, growing quietly in status and stature as downtown Tulsa’s amazing resurgence has opened the way for continued growth and sustainability. It can be challenging to balance the competing interests between owners and renters, between pet owners and non-pet-owners, and between a 23-year old hedge fund manager who wants more amenities and retirees on fixed incomes who favor low dues.
Those differences require residents to find common ground in order to keep the peace and deliver a quality experience for every resident. The motive for cooperation is inherent, because everyone living at Central Park has a vested interest in building a fair and equitable community, the root of a successful condominium experience. Let’s work together to make it happen.
