Jun 19, 2009 4:03 pm US/Eastern
Condo Complex To Kids: No Bikes, No Ballgames
Hopedale Condos Change The Rules On Young Families
HOPEDALE (WBZ) ―
Residents of a metro west condo complex say they're sad and upset about some new policies they feel are not family-friendly.
"It's not that cool," says 7-year-old Gunnar Witham, talking about the 2009 rules and regulations for the Hopedale condo complex in which he lives, Laurelwood.
The rules say riding or parking bikes on "lawns or roadways is strictly prohibited."
The old rules prohibited bikes on sidewalks.
"We don't have sidewalks here," said Sara Pellegrini, who has lived in Laurelwood about 7 years.
Pellegrini feels the board of managers has changed the rules in the middle of the game. So she's stashing her kids' bikes and other toys prohibited from Laurelwood's lawns and streets in her basement.
Pellegrini says she received a violation notice last Fall warning her about children riding bikes and making noise, but she just wants her kids to be able to be kids.
"Our children really are not welcome outside. They're not welcome to make kid noises, and they're not welcome to ride their bikes, and a lot of these rules are new," she said, adding that her daughter Olivia and Gunnar were recently approached by the condo board President about a bike parked near them. "He asked us our addresses. Then, I and Olivia ran and then he got out of his car," said Gunnar.
WBZ's Ron Sanders went to the board president's condo, but there was no answer. A spokeswoman for Laurelwood's management says it's their "company policy not to discuss any of these items with the media."
Gunnar's mom says she does not think the bike rule conforms with Laurelwood's by-laws.
"I think it discriminates against our children, and I don't think they're doing anything wrong," she said. "We all want to live in harmony. I have a lot of friends here of all ages," said Pellegrini who, along with some of her neighbors, plans to go to the owners meeting next month and see if they can get the rules changed.
Do you think the rules go to far, or does limiting children's activity within a condo complex make sense? Lend your voice to Conversation Nation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments