Team,

Good afternoon!  I hope you are all staying warm and dry on this chilly, rainy day!

First of all, let me thank all of you for your patience with the numerous updates and changes regarding the parking policy at the Ridgewood pool.  I fully recognize and acknowledge that this has been a confusing and frustrating process and I am grateful for your support!  Please rest assured that I have been in consistent communication with the HOA, working to improve the rules and processes for the benefit of the team, while also keeping in mind the association's commitment to serve the campers, residents and staff with whom we share that parking lot.  The ultimate goal is to provide fair, equitable, and safe use of the facility for everyone.

Below is the updated parking policy that was agreed upon today.  This will go into effect tomorrow (Tuesday, June 17th) and will apply to ALL swimmers/families (regardless of whether or not you live in the HOA) for EVERY morning practice for the rest of the season.  Please be sure your teen swimmers who drive themselves are aware of this change and tell your friends too, since not everyone may see this email!

Restricted Parking:  The following parking spaces will be marked as such and ARE NOT to be used by swimmers/swim team families:

• 20 parking spaces marked for HOA Staff parking
• 3 parking spaces marked for Barracudas Head Coaches
• Parking spaces marked for visitors to the HOA office
• Parking space marked for the Preschool/Summer Camp Director

Drop Off and Pick Up:  There will continue to be ten 10 minute drop off spaces marked off to be shared between the HOA summer camp and the swim team.  

• These spaces are ONLY FOR DROP OFF AND PICK UP and to be used for no more than 10 minutes at a time.  
• If you arrive with swimmers who need to be accompanied up to the pool and there are not open spots available, please utilize these spaces and then move your car to an open space or onto Oakwood Dr.
• If you arrive to pick up swimmers who are not ready and waiting, please pull into one of these spaces (or any open space) to wait for them.  We MAY NOT have a line of cars idling in front of the Association office waiting to pick up swimmers, as this is unsafe.  Please plan your arrive accordingly.
• If you are pulling up to the walkway to the pool for drop off/pick up please do not block the driveway/walkway to the pool.  This is utilized by landscaping/facilities vehicles and they need to be able to safely enter and exit from behind the HOA building.
• If you are pulling up to the walkway to the pool to drop off/pick up your swimmers you MUST pull as far to the right as you safely can and form a single line so that cars can continue to pass on your left. Swimmers should enter exit on the right side of the vehicle.  And remember, this is ONLY for when your swimmers are immediately present and ready to enter/exit your vehicle. 
• If you are arriving between 8 and 9am, which is prime summer camp drop off time, please be kind and courteous and share the parking lot with the campers' families who are also dropping off.  Please be on the lookout for extra vehicles and pedestrians, as well as HOA landscaping and facilities vehicles during this time as well.

Useable Spaces:  Aside from spaces marked as "drop off" and those "restricted spaces" mentioned above (and handicapped spaces unless you have proper tags/permission), any open parking lot spaces are available to swimmers/swim team families on a first come, first served basis.  If there are no spaces available upon your arrival, please safely park on Oakwood Dr.

Additionally, the team will station 1 volunteer in the parking lot daily from 8-9am to help ensure the safe flow of traffic and pedestrians entering/exiting the pool.  This is the busiest hour of the morning (3 practices entering/exiting, HOA staff arrival, and summer camp drop off) and our volunteer will help ensure everyone is following the rules and being safe.  We ask that everyone be kind as respectful towards this volunteer and follow their directions as needed.  Shala and I will work out the details on this and notify the team, but if it's something you'd be interested in helping with please let me know.

Despite this change, some people will inevitably need to park on Oakwood as overflow parking (which is no different than years past).  I remind you to please drive safely and slowly and follow all directional signs when driving on Oakwood and through the LRPRA parking lot for drop off. Let's all work together to keep our swimmers' safe around the road and parking lot!

Thank you again for your patience through this process.  And, as always, don't hesitate to reach out to me directly with questions or concerns.  Thank you!

Suzi Welch

President, Board of Directors

[email protected]

912-856-9128