The Recreation Association is pleased to announce the full reopening of the Clubhouse; and changes with respect to the use of the outdoor facilities

July 21, 2021

CLUBHOUSE

Days and Hours of Operation:

• The clubhouse will be open seven days a week without time restrictions. The locks will be changed back on Wednesday July 21, 2021 to accept the residents’ keys.

Use of Clubhouse Facilities in General:

• All clubhouse facilities are open, with the exception of the water fountains and the sauna and showers in the lower-level bathrooms.
• The Ballroom, TV room, and Crafts room are available for booking.
• The Association’s “General Social Distancing and Mask Requirements for Facility Users” applies to all rooms and areas of the clubhouse:

1. Facility users who have been fully vaccinated need not social distance or wear masks.

2. Facility users who have not been fully vaccinated should social distance or wear a mask while in the presence of non-family members, unless the rules for the use of the particular facility provide otherwise.

3. Children under the age of 12 should wear a mask while in the presence of persons who are not members of their family, unless the rules for the use of the particular facility in question provides otherwise.

Card Room

• The maximum capacity of the card room is 72 persons (18 tables, 4 at each table).
• The tables and chairs have been arranged to promote social distancing and should not be moved.

Gym

• The use of the Gym is restricted to adult Palm Greens residents and such residents’ adult guests.
• The maximum capacity of each gym room has been increased to 4 users. No spectators or observers are permitted.
• The use of the gym is first come first served. Reservations will no longer be required or accepted.
• 6 feet of social distancing should be maintained at all times while inside the gym. Face masks are optional.
• Each gym user should wipe down the seat and handles of the equipment he or she will use both before and after each use. Disposable gloves, papers towels, and hand sanitizers will be available.
• Gym users may bring sanitizer and hydration drinks.
• All other gym rules apply.

Billiard Room

• The Billiard room is open to residents and their guests who are 16 and older.
• Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a resident or a parent who has a guest pass.
• All 4 tables are now available for play. The maximum capacity of the Billiard room is 16 persons.
• The use of the Billiard room is first come first served. Reservations will no longer be required or accepted.
• Players should wipe down their cue sticks, and the billiard table’s score counters, rack, and bridge prior to and at the end of play. Disposable gloves, papers towels, and hand sanitizers will be available.
• All other Billiard room rules apply.

Outdoor facility changes

• The water fountains are open.
• The pool area closes at dusk.
• The pool’s swimming capacity has been increased to 35 persons. Swimmers must still maintain social distancing.
• All shuffleboard courts are open for play.
• The shed housing the tennis ball machine and the bocce, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and cornhole equipment can now be accessed by residents via their pool/clubhouse key. The shed should not be left unlocked. Equipment should be returned to the shed at the end of play.

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The Association’s current covid-related rules and policies for the use of its facilities are posted in their entirety on this website (CLICK HERE)

Covid Waivers are still required in order to use the Recreation Association’s facilities (CLICK HERE)

Facility check-ins or sign-in sheets may also be required at the discretion of the Recreation Association

Thank you for your cooperation!

ADDITIONAL FACILITY ADJUSTMENTS 

(effective Tuesday, June 22, 2021)

   The Recreation Association is pleased to announce the following enhancements to the use of its facilities

Café

Take-out and delivery orders can now be placed online as well as by phone.

   To order online:  Click Here or go to the Cafe’s website at www.palmgreens.org
   To order by phone call:  561-591-5950

The Café menu is available via the above links.  A copy of the menu can also be picked up at the Café.

Minors Access to Facilities

The use of the Association’s outdoor amenities, the Café and private clubhouse events are no longer limited to adults.

A person under the age of 18 (a “Minor”) who is a guest of a resident may be admitted to such facilities if:

• The Minor is accompanied and supervised by the resident, or a parent who has a guest pass; and
• The Minor’s parent has legal custody of the child and has signed and submitted the Recreation Association’s “Parental Consent Waiver” on behalf of the Minor.

Minors ages 12 to 17 who have been fully vaccinated need not wear a mask or social distance.

Minors ages 12 to 17 who have not been fully vaccinated must social distance while in the pool, and must either social distance or wear a mask except when:

• they are seated and dining at the Café;
• they are seated with members of their family and are maintaining social distancing from other persons.

Minors ages 2 to 11 must wear a mask except when:

• they are in the pool;
• they are seated and dining at the Café;
• they are seated with members of their family and are maintaining social distancing from other persons.

Pool Spa (Hot Tub)

The Spa’s capacity has been increased to 5 users. The rules for the use of the Spa are posted at the Spa.

Bocce Ball, Horseshoes and Corn Hole

• The Bocce Ball, Horseshoe and Cornhole courts and equipment will be available for play from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 7 days a week, on a first come first served basis.

• Participation is limited to Palm Greens residents and their guests who have signed waivers on file at the Recreation Association office. Guests must also have a Recreation Association issued guest pass.

• Check-in is not required. Participants should sign in and out at the table which is located between the equipment shed and the Bocce Ball Court, and sanitize their hands at that time.  Hand sanitizer will be available on or near that table.

• The equipment shed is locked. The equipment will be laid out and sanitized by Recreation Association staff prior to 9:00 AM.

• Participants and observers who have not been fully vaccinated should maintain social distancing or wear a mask.

Preparations are also underway to reopen the Clubhouse Library – an opening date will be announced soon!

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Please call the Recreation Association Office in advance of arrival in order to ensure that staff is available to accommodate requests for Recreation Association ID’s, waivers and guest passes.

The phone number is 561-498-5316.  The Office is closed on weekends & holidays.

Thank you for your cooperation

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

Palm Greens Café to Open

June 12, 2021

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce the formal opening of the Palm Greens Café.

The Café will initially open for lunch only on Sunday, June 13, 2021, during the hours of 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Café is closed on Mondays during the off-season.  Therefore, regular full-day Café operations will begin Tuesday, June 15, 2021, as follows:

• On-site dining: The Café’s regular hours of operation for onsite dining will be 8:45 AM to 4:30 PM.  Access to the Café for indoor and outdoor dining will be via the pool area.

• To-go and delivery orders:  To-go and delivery orders can be called in from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.  The Café’s phone number is 561-501-5950.

To-go orders should be picked up at the Café’s pick-up window, which can be reached via the walkway to the left of the tennis office.  The pick-up window will remain open until 5:00 PM.

The Café’s menu and other information pertaining to the operation of the Café can be found in the drop-down choices for the “Café” link which appears at the very top of the Recreation’s Association’s website, above the picture of the clubhouse:

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

Pool hours extended; Billiards Room Opened

June 9, 2021

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce that the pool is now open until 8:00 PM seven days a week. Pool check-ins and monitoring will end at 4:30 PM. Residents and guests arriving after that should sign in at the gate near the tennis office and use the resident’s clubhouse key to enter.

In addition, the Clubhouse Billiard room is now open for play on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The Recreation Association’s covid-related policies and procedures for the use of the facilities, including the Pool and Billiard Room, are posted on this website and can be viewed and download (Click Here).

Access to Recreation Association facilities, for now, remains limited to adult Palm Greens residents and their adult guests who have a covid waiver on file at the Recreation Association office.

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

Palm Greens Café Barbeque and Café Opening

May 27, 2021

Great News.  Palm Greens Café operations will resume this coming week!

Our new vendor is Trevor McGrath a/k/a “The Skinny Cheff with two FFs”.  Trevor is an experienced Chef who has worked in the U.S and abroad, honing his culinary talents and diversifying his skills.  He then struck out on his own and has been catering private events.  We believe that you will find Trevor’s enthusiasm contagious and the Skinny Cheff’s kitchen fare a treat.

Here are some of the details with respect to the opening and operation of our Café:

• The initial contract is for one year, through May 31, 2022.

• The Skinny Cheff, in advance of the Café’s formal opening, will be hosting a buffet style Barbeque at the Café on Sunday, May 30, 2021 in celebration of Memorial Day. The event will run from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM.Reservations are not required. Residents and Guests who have a Covid-19 waiver on file and who present a Palm Greens Picture ID or guest pass are welcome.  This special event is also open to Condo 1, 2 and Recreation Association staff.The cost is $10 per person which must be paid in cash since the Café system for payments by credit card and cafe cards are not yet operational.

• The Café’s opening date for take-out, delivery, and onsite dining will occur soon and will be announced in advance via a Recreation Association E-mail blast, and on Channel 63.

• The Cafe will operate at least 6 days a week during the off-season and will go to 7 days a week in September. The hours of operation will be (at least):on-site dining: 8:30 AM  –   4:30 PM
  takeout/delivery:    8:30 AM  –   5:00 PM

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner-style entrees will be offered and cooked to order.

In selecting The Skinny Cheff the Recreation Association Board was mindful of the concerns that had been expressed by the Palm Greens community with respect to the cost and quality of the food that was previously offered, and the service that was provided at the Café by the former Vendor’s employees.

We are confident that we have remedied these issues.  Trevor will be at the Café when it opens, supervising and preparing food himself.  Prices will be lower than before.  And with Trevor on-site employee services should be top-notch.

Steps have also been taken to put an end to the Recreation Association’s forfeiture of prepaid but unused food card credits.  Such an arrangement is untenable given the additional non-pandemic and pandemic-related costs that Recreation Association will absorb in 2021 without any increase its annual assessment.

One Café food card per Palm Greens unit will be issued by the Skinny Cheff, upon the request of a current resident of the unit who presents a Palm Green’s picture ID card.   Once issued that food card may then be used by any person who presents the card.

Each food card will reflect an initial credit of $30.00.  However, the Recreation Association will only reimburse The Skinny Cheff for food that is actually purchased via that $30.00 credit.  Additional food credits may be posted to the cards by the Recreation Association in 2021 and 2022 should the Association have the funds to do so.

A welcome message from the Skinny Cheff has been posted on the Recreation Association website’s Café page.  Café menu and prices;  food card information; and current Covid-19 related arrangements for the use of the Café will be added to the Café page when the Café’s opening date is announced.

The link to the Café webpage can be found on the left side of the banner that appears at the very top of the Recreation Association’s website.

The Recreation Association Board of Directors believes that these new food service arrangements will prove to be a tasty and welcome amenity for the residents of Palm Greens, and we are looking forward to joining everyone soon at the Recreation Association’s new and improved Palm Greens Café!

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

Significant Facility Adjustments

Effective May 25, 2021

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce significant adjustments with respect to the use of its facilities.

The changes take effect on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 and can be viewed in their entirety by clicking on the CURRENT COVID-19 RULES link at the top of this page.

Here are the highlights:

Guests 18 or older will be admitted to all facilities

Adult guests who have signed and submitted a Guest Covid Waiver form and secured a Guest Pass from the Recreation Association Office will be admitted to Recreation Association facilities.

Copies of our Resident Waiver (click here) and our Guest Waiver (click here) forms can be viewed and downloaded.

Vaccination exemptions

A resident or guest will not need to wear a mask or social distance in most circumstances if 14 days have elapsed since he or she was fully vaccinated.

Pool

• The pool area capacity will be increased from 50 to 90 so that reservations will no longer be necessary. All pool area admissions will be on a first come first serve basis, beginning Tuesday, May 25, 2021.
• Pool sessions will be combined and lengthened:Session 1: 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM
  Exercise class use: lap area 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
  shallow end 9:00 AM – 10:15 AMSession 2: 12:30 PM – 4:45 PM
• Pool area users may check-in at any time throughout a pool session

Shuffle Board and Tennis:

• The shuffleboard courts will open at 9:00 AM and close at 3:00 PM, 7 days a week. Shuffleboard check-ins will be eliminated in favor of a sign-in sheet.
• The one-person-at-a-time limitation for the use of the tennis ball machine on Court 1 will be eliminated.

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

Gym Opening and Additional Facility Adjustments

Effective May 12, 2021

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce the following adjustments with respect to the use of its facilities, which will take effect this coming Wednesday, May 12, 2021:

• Pool:

The pool area capacity will be increased from 40 to 50. The swimming capacity of (25) will not be increased.

The Recreation Association will supply chairs and lounges. Residents may still bring their own chairs should they prefer. The Recreation Association’s chairs and lounges may not be shared and will be disinfected between pool sessions.

• Shuffle Board:

Spectators are allowed.

• Clubhouse – gym and movies:

The Gym will be open on weekdays to 6 users at a time (3 in each room).

There will be three gym sessions each weekday. Reservations may be made and persons without reservations will be admitted on a space-available basis. The Gym rooms will be disinfected between sessions.

Please click on the button above labeled “CURRENT COVID-19 RULES” and then scroll down to Page 10 for a complete list of the rules and procedures for the use of the Gym.

Friday night movies may be shown in either the clubhouse or poolside.

Please keep an eye out for our email blast movie announcements as to when and where a coming attraction will take place and reservations.

The Recreation Association Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation for the residents’ cooperation with the procedures and limitations that the Association currently has in place to protect against the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The steps we have taken comport with CDC standards and are advisable at this time because the State of Florida has ruled out our ability to request proof of vaccination as a means of permitting a broader and much more unfettered use of our facilities, such as the pool, the gym, and other clubhouse rooms and areas.

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

TENNIS COURTS OPEN FROM DAWN TO DUSK

Effective Saturday, May 1, 2021

After careful consideration, the Recreation Association has determined that it would be appropriate to dispense with tennis sessions, check-ins and monitoring and open the tennis courts on a first come first served basis from dawn to dusk. Other covid related limitations on the use of the courts will remain in effect.

The use of the courts will continue to be restricted to Palm Greens residents who have a waiver on file at the Recreation Association Office, and players will be required to sign in and out.

Spectators who are residents of Palm Greens and have a waiver on file will also be permitted.

Please click on the button above labeled “CURRENT COVID-19 RULES” and then scroll down to Page 5 for a complete list of the new Tennis rules.

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce adjustments in the use of its outdoor facilities and the institution of an automated reservation system

April 14, 2021

Pool Area Reservations

Effective immediately (all reservations):

• 7 pool reservations may be booked (one session per day)
• When a session is fully booked a person can be put on a reservation waitlist in the event of a reservation cancellation;
• Persons who do not have reservations will be admitted on a space available, first come first served basis during check-in, and can attend more than 1 session per day.

Transition to automated reservation system:

• Reservations and cancellations for the period ending April 18, 2021 should continue to be booked via the Recreation Association’s Telephone Reservation line.
• Reservations and cancellations for the period beginning April 19, 2021 should be booked via the Recreation Association’s automated reservation system at https://palmgreens.org/automated-reservation-system; or via the link to that page on the Association’s website at www.palmgreens.org.
• A person requiring assistance booking or canceling a reservation via the automated reservation system may call the Recreation Association’s telephone reservation line weekdays at 561-498-5365, between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, or such other hours as may be announced on the call line.

Shuffleboard

Effective immediately:

• Masks will be optional while playing shuffleboard so long as 6 feet of social distancing is maintained;
• The afternoon Sunday shuffleboard session has been eliminated due to lack of demand. The Sunday shuffleboard session will begin at 9:45 AM and end at 11:30 AM.

To Palm Greens Residents

Recreation Association Announcement

FREE TENNIS CLINICS – BEGINNERS WELCOME!

SHUFFLEBOARD SESSION ENHANCEMENTS!

March 12, 2021

Palm Greens Tennis Pro Jim Boardman will be conducting tennis clinics during the next 5 weeks.  There is no cost for these clinics.  Clinics for beginners are on Tuesdays and intermediate clinics are on Fridays.  Clinics will begin at 11 am and will last approximately an hour.  Meet outside court #1.  If you are interested and aren’t sure which clinic to attend, contact the Recreation Office and Jim will advise you.  These clinics are also a good way for non-rotation players to be introduced to our tennis program so if you have any friends or neighbors who you think might be interested let them know.  Non-rotation players will initially need to be scheduled by reservation, so email (tnnscenter@gmail.com).

Effective Friday, March 13, 2021:

• The Weekday and Saturday morning shuffleboard sessions will start 30 minutes earlier. The new check-in time for those days will be 9:45 AM. Those sessions will end at 11:30 AM.

• The Sunday shuffleboard session has been moved to Sunday afternoons to better accommodate both regular and occasional players. Check-in for the Sunday session begins at 2:15 PM and the session will end at 4:00.

 Reservations are not required for Shuffleboard Sessions

“Try it–you’ll like it!”

To Palm Greens Residents

Pool Area Capacities Increased; Sessions Extended (and other adjustments)

Tennis Check-in and Monitoring to be handled by Tennis Committee

February 15, 2021

The Recreation Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following changes:

Pool (effective Tuesday, February 16, 2021)

• Pool Session capacity has been increased from 25 to 40 persons. The maximum number of bathers (25) has not been increased in order to ensure adequate social distancing in the pool where masks are not required.
• The 3rd and 4th pool sessions have been extended to 2 hours.
• 3rd session: check-in at 12:30; session ends at 2:30
• 4th session: check-in at 2:45; session ends at 4:45
• Reservations will still be accepted. Reservations can be canceled on weekends and holidays by leaving a voice message on the Recreation Association’s reservation line. (No-shows will automatically lose the opportunity to use the pool for a week after 3 uncanceled reservations)
• Persons not having reservations will be admitted on a first come first serve basis at check-in, on a space-available basis.
• Masks will no longer be required while seated on the pool deck; Persons who reside together are not required to maintain 6 feet of social distancing while seated.

Tennis

The Tennis Committee has graciously agreed to assume responsibility for tennis check-ins and monitoring. The Recreation Association’s rules for the use of the tennis facilities remain unchanged and the Tennis Committee will be obliged to report instances of non-compliance to the Recreation Association.

A copy of the Association’s revised Covid-19 rules and procedures can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the appropriate link at the top of this announcement page, or via the link on the main page of the Recreation Association’s website (www.palmgreens.org).

To Palm Greens Residents

Opening of all Tennis Courts

January 21, 2021

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce that all tennis courts will be opened effective immediately. No change has been made with respect to the daily number of sessions (2), and session times.

Residents wishing to play tennis during either session should:

1. contact the Tennis Committee for court availability; and

2. be sure to familiarize themselves with pages 1-4 (General Rules – all facilities) and pages 5 – 6 (Tennis Rules) of the Association’s revised Covid-19 related rules and procedures, dated January 21, 2021.

The Tennis Committee can be contacted via email at: tnnscenter@gmail.com; or via phone at 561-303-1101.

A copy of the Association’s revised Covid-19 rules and procedures can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the appropriate link at the top of this announcement page, or via the link on the main page of the Recreation Association’s website.

To Palm Greens Residents

Ruvens Contract will not be Renewed for 2021

Café Cards will not be Accepted after December 31, 2020

December 23, 2020

As some Palm Greens residents may have already heard, the Recreation Association’s Café Contract with Ruvens will not be renewed for 2021.

Therefore:

•  The Palm Green Café Cards will be accepted at Ruvens until 3PM on December 31, 2020. The cards can be used for dining-in, take-out meals, and deli purchases.
• As in past years, any balance remaining on a Café Card at year’s end will be forfeited. Residents are urged to not let those 2020 food credits go to waste!
• Ruvens will not recharge the Palm Greens Café Cards with a food credit, for use in 2021.

The Recreation Association’s decision to not renew its Café contract with Ruven’s was based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the ongoing closure of the Café due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the dwindling use of the Café Cards at Ruvens since the closure of the Café, and the lack of support for the renewal of the Café contract by the Boards of the two Condominium Associations that fund the Recreation Association.

The Recreation Association’s Board of Directors believes that the Palm Greens Café is an important amenity that should not be abandoned. We are hopeful that the Covid-19 vaccines which are now being distributed will be made available to the majority of Palm Greens residents in the course of the next three or four months, and will serve to reduce the risk of the transmission of the virus within the Palm Greens community. As such, the Board has budgeted for Café food services beginning as early this coming spring, 2021. In the interim, the Board will be exploring various alternatives for the operation of the Café upon its resumption.

The savings that will be realized by a partial year funding of the Café will be applied to meet the Association’s 2021 Covid-19 related expenditures, well as ballooning costs in such areas as insurance, repairs, and maintenance. Therefore the Recreation Association’s 2020 assessment (which works out to $59 per month per unit owner) will not be increased in 2021.

To Palm Greens Residents

ADDITION OF SECOND TENNIS SESSION 

Dec 14, 2020

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce that a second morning tennis session has been added effective Monday, December 14, 2020. The Association’s Covid-19 rules and procedures with respect to tennis have been amended in a number of important respects in conjunction with the addition of the second session.

Residents wishing to play tennis during either session should:

1. contact the Tennis Committee for court availability; and

2. be sure to familiarize themselves with pages 1-4 (General Rules – all facilities) and pages 5 – 6 (Tennis Rules) of the Association’s revised Covid-19 related rules and procedures, dated December 14, 2020.

The Tennis Committee can be contacted via email at: tnnscenter@gmail.com; or via phone at 561-303-1101.

A copy of the Association’s revised Covid-19 rules and procedures can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the appropriate link at the top of this announcement page, or via the link on the main page of the Recreation Association’s website.

To Palm Greens Residents

TENNIS OFFICE IS OPEN; PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE 

Nov 21, 2020

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce that the Association’s longstanding Tennis Pro, Jim Boardman, has returned and will be on-site through April 16, 2021.

In addition to his regular Palm Greens duties, Jim will once again be offering residents private tennis lessons.

The Recreation Association’s Rules, Requirements and Procedures for the use of the tennis facilities have been amended to reflect the opening of the Tennis Office and the availability of private lessons.

Jim can be reached via the Association’s Tennis Office phone line at 561-303-1101, or by calling Jim directly at 561-613-8203.

Welcome back Jim!

To Palm Greens Residents

POOL, TENNIS, AND SHUFFLEBOARD TO OPEN EVERY DAY 

October 14, 2020

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce that the Association’s pool, tennis courts, and shuffleboard

facilities will all be open every day.

This change will take effect on Thursday, October 15, 2020.

• Pool, Tennis, and Shuffleboard Session times will not change.
• Reservations will still be required for the Pool.
• The number of permissible Pool reservations per week will be increased to 5.
• All other Rules, Requirements, and Procedures for the use of the facilities remain in effect.

To Palm Greens Residents

POOL AREA SPA TO OPEN OCTOBER 5, 2020

October 4, 2020

The Recreation Association is pleased to announce that the Spa (Hot Tub) at the Recreation Association’s pool will be available for use, beginning with the 1:15 PM pool session on Monday, October 5, 2020.

Persons wishing to be admitted to the pool area to use the Spa must have a reservation for the pool session.

The use of the Spa will be on a first-come-first-served basis. The Spa’s initial maximum capacity will be 2 persons. Each person’s use of the Spa will initially be limited to 15 minutes per pool session.

Masks will not be required while in the Spa.

The rules for the use of the Spa will be posted at the Spa.

To Palm Greens Residents

POOL & TENNIS OCTOBER CALENDAR

September 28, 2020

To Palm Greens Residents

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TENNIS FACILITY

SUSPENSION OF RESIDENTS

September 26, 2020

On September 26, 2020 three tennis players violated the Association’s rules with respect to the use of the tennis facilities by refusing to cease play and exit the tennis facilities at the end of the session, and by repeatedly disregarding the instructions of the Recreation Association’s Facility Monitor in that regard.

The Recreation Association Board of Directors has made it clear that such behaviors will not be tolerated and could give rise to the closure of facilities.

The Board of Directors has:

• directed the 2-day closure of the tennis courts session effective immediately. The tennis courts will re-open beginning Friday, October 2, 2020.

• suspended the three residents’ use of all Recreation Association facilities through October 7, 2020.

Unfortunately, our current Monitor has resigned due to the disrespectful behaviors of facility users.

The Board will not keep the Recreation Association’s facilities open if such conduct continues.

To Palm Greens Residents

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHUFFLEBOARD FACILITY

September 23, 2020

On September 20 & 22, 2020 a group of shuffleboard players violated the Association’s rules with respect to the use of the shuffleboard facilities, disregarded the instructions of the Recreation Association’s Facility Monitor, and were rude and verbally abusive towards the Monitor.

In addition, one of the residents physically confronted the Monitor and thumped him on the chest.

The Recreation Association Board of Directors has made it clear that such behaviors will not be tolerated and could give rise to the closure of facilities.

Accordingly, the Board of Directors has directed the temporary closure of shuffleboard though the end of this week.  The shuffleboard courts will re-open beginning Monday, September 28, 2020.

In addition, access to all Recreation Association facilities by the resident who physically accosted the Monitor has been suspended effective immediately, through October 10, 2020.

The Board will not keep the Recreation Association’s facilities open if such conduct continues.

To Palm Greens Residents

STATUS OF PALM GREENS RECREATION ASSOCIATION FACILITY RE-OPENINGS

September 15, 2020

The Recreation Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce the following modifications with respect to the use of the Association’s Pool, Tennis Courts, and Shuffleboard courts:

 Tennis Courts – effective September 16, 2020:

• doubles play permitted
• deletion of lightly used 2^nd tennis session in order to permit the extension of the length of the 8:15 AM session by 30 minutes:

8:15  AM:    check-in and admittance                                        10:00 AM:    session play ends, residents exit

• 6 courts open – 8:15 session maximum capacity increased from 16 to 24

Shuffleboard – effective September 16, 2020:

• one session, every other day (on tennis days)
• no reservations required or accepted:

10:15 AM:  check-in and admittance

11:30 AM:  session play ends, residents exit

• 5 courts open, first come first served, doubles play permitted

• see the Recreation Association’s amended rules and requirements dated September 16, 2020, for check-in details and rules governing the use of the shuffleboard courts

Pool – effective September 17, 2020:

• three reservations accepted per week
• morning exercise class may be conducted 3 days a week
• extension of each pool session by 15 minutes:

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ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE RECREATION ASSOCIATION’S RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THE ASSOCIATION’S OUTDOOR FACILITIES.

ALL FACILITY USERS SHOULD, THEREFORE, REVIEW AND FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE AMENDED RULES AND REQUIREMENTS WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 AND WHICH ARE BEING RELEASED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

To Palm Greens Residents

STATUS OF PALM GREENS RECREATION ASSOCIATION FACILITY RE-OPENINGS

August 27, 2020

GOOD NEWS!

The spike in the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Palm Beach County appears to have been contained. The weekly number of new infections is steadily diminishing and approaching pre-spike levels.  The trend for our zip code (33484) mirrors the Palm Beach County trend.

Therefore, Recreation Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has established the following target dates for the opening of the Association’s pool and tennis courts:

  Tennis courts: Wednesday, September 2^nd

  Pool:  Thursday, September 3^rd

The tennis courts and pool will be opened in accordance with the Recreation Association’s “Amended Rules and Requirements” which were previously released.  Another copy is posted in conjunction with this announcement.

Residents who wish to use the facilities should be sure to familiarize themselves with the Amended Rules and Requirements, which will be strictly enforced.

As a reminder:

• The use of the facilities is currently limited to Palm Greens residents (no guests).

• The tennis courts and the pool will be open on alternate days. A calendar showing which days are tennis days and which days are pool days during the month of September is included at the end of this announcement. Subsequent calendars will be posted and will also be available outside the main entrance of the clubhouse.

• There will be two tennis sessions on tennis days, and 4 pool sessions on pool days. Residents should consult the Amended Rules and Requirements for the times of the sessions, capacities, and other important details.

• Capacities are limited and reservations are required to use the pool.

Pool reservations

General pool use –   The Recreation Association’s reservation phone line will begin accepting reservations on Friday, August 28, 2020.  Reservations may be booked up to one week in advance.  The pool reservation line phone number is 561-498-5365.  The reservation line will be open weekdays from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Pool exercise classes –  Reservations must be booked through the class instructor  (not the reservation line).

Contact: Gail Nochman at 561-638-8762 for how and when to make a reservation for a pool exercise class.

• Residents must have a signed waiver on file to use the tennis courts and pool. They also must be wearing a mask and present a current (white, credit card style) Palm Greens ID at check-in to be admitted to the tennis and pool facilities.

• Should a resident require an ID or has not yet signed and filed the waiver with the Recreation Association Office, please contact that office as soon as possible at 561-498-5316.

The Board wishes to emphasize that the Amended Rules and Requirements are intended to be a starting point and are not carved in stone.  The amenity schedules and reservation requirements may be adjusted based upon actual attendance.  And user cooperation and compliance with social distancing and other rules will be a key factor in the Board’s determinations as to whether the initial capacity and monitoring restrictions will be relaxed or eliminated.

Finally, residents should bear in mind that the Recreation Association’s plan to open its pool and tennis courts is based upon the assumption that the declines in the number of new infections in Palm Beach County and zip code 33484 will continue.  Openings could be postponed should that not hold true.

Thank you once again for your cooperation, understanding, and most of all your patience.  We look forward to seeing you on the tennis courts and at the pool!

To Palm Greens Residents

STATUS OF PALM GREENS RECREATION ASSOCIATION FACILITY RE-OPENINGS

July 20, 2020

As the Recreation Association’s Board of Directors indicated in its July 1, 2020 announcement, the planned July 3rd reopening of the Association’s tennis courts and the pool was put on hold in light of a serious spike in the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

Unfortunately, the spread of the virus has not been contained, and the situation has become especially dire in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.

As the following chart illustrates, the weekly number of new infections (“cases”) in Palm Beach County has been increasing at an alarming rate since re-openings began in earnest in early May.  There were 435 new cases during the week ending May 2 (4/26 – 5/2). Since then the rate of new infections per week has risen more than tenfold, to 4,758 new cases during the week ending July 18, 2020 (7/12 -7/18). ^[1]

Wk ending:  3/7                             5/2                                     7/18
new cases:    0                                435                                    4,758

The question has been posed as to the criteria that will be utilized by the Board in determining when the Palm Greens Recreation Association’s tennis courts and pool will be opened.

The State of Florida compiles and Board members have been closely monitoring the data that the State publishes on a daily basis with respect where things stand throughout Florida as a whole and in each County.  That data includes the number of new infections, the percentage of persons who have tested positive for the virus (the “positivity rate”), and the number of Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths.  Individually, each “metric” has its well documented weak points, and it is the Board’s view that the trend is more important than any particular raw number.

In addition to taking the State’s data into consideration, the Board has considered and will continue to consider a number of other factors pertaining specifically to Palm Greens.  Those include the risk that the virus poses to seniors and medically compromised individuals, the Recreation Association’s ability to ensure user compliance with the social distancing and other legal requirements, credible reports of the existence of the virus within the Palm Greens community, budgetary considerations and the demand for the use of the facilities.

There is no magic formula and the Board is working extremely hard and doing its best to strike the appropriate balance during these unprecedented and very trying times.  We appreciate the support that we have received with respect to our efforts and thank you all for your understanding and patience.

 
^[1] The total number of new infections in Palm Beach County since March 1 is 25,785. The total number of new infections in Palm Beach County for each of the 3 most recent 4 week periods were:

week ending 5/2   ->  week ending 5/23:      2,487 new cases

week ending 5/30 ->  week ending 6/20:      5,520 new cases  (+ 102 %)

week ending 6/27 ->  week ending 7/18:    15,646 new cases  (+ 183 %)

To Palm Greens Residents

STATUS OF PALM GREENS RECREATION ASSOCIATION FACILITY RE-OPENINGS

 July 1, 2020

As many Palm Greens residents are aware, on June 14 the Recreation Association Board of Directors promulgated Rules and Requirements for the Recreation Association’s reopening of its tennis courts and pool.  We indicated at that time that the Board had not yet established precise dates for a re-opening and that a decision in that regard would turn on the status of the coronavirus in Palm Beach County.

The Board hoped to re-open the Association’s tennis courts and pool prior to the July Fourth holiday.  Recreation Association staff were directed to prepare the facilities for a July 3, opening, and those arrangements are nearly completed.   The Board also discussed and agreed to adjustments to the Rules and Requirements, again in anticipation of a July 3 opening.  The revised Rules and Requirements are posted in conjunction with this announcement. [1]

Unfortunately, the reopening of our facilities has now been put on hold in light of the ongoing, serious spike in the transmission of the Covid-19 virus and the very real prospect of community spread.   Simply put the benefit of reopening does not, in the Board’s judgment, outweigh the current risk to the Palm Greens community and staff.

It is our hope that the steps that are now being taken by Palm Beach County and neighboring counties will serve to contain the spread of the virus and that the infection rate will plateau and begin to come down.  The Recreation Association Board of Directors will be closely monitoring the available data in that regard.

In the interim, the Board would like to assure year-round residents and Snow Birds whose departures have been delayed that the Board deeply regrets this postponement and that it remains committed to a prompt re-opening of our facilities as things improve.

Our preparations are in place for when that day comes and we would ask the residents to prepare as well by signing and returning the required waiver as soon as possible, and by ensuring that they have a current white, credit card style Palm Green Recreation Association ID.  We don’t want to turn anyone away at the door!

Waiver forms can be picked up and returned outside the entrance to the clubhouse.  The form can also be downloaded from the link at the end of this announcement.  Should a resident require a replacement ID he or she should contact the Recreation Association office at 561-498-5316.

The Recreation Association Board of Directors has received comments both in opposition to and support of how the Board intends to approach the re-opening of the Association’s facilities when the time comes.  We continue to believe that the interests of the Palm Greens community are best served by the Board’s decision to go slow and err on the side of caution as to the extent of our initial re-opening.

That being said, the Board wishes to emphasize that the Amended Rules and Requirements are intended to be a starting point and are not carved in stone.  The amenity schedules and reservation requirements can be adjusted based upon actual attendance.  And user cooperation and compliance with social distancing and other rules will be a key factor in the Board’s determinations as to whether the initial capacity and monitoring restrictions will be relaxed or eliminated.

Thank you once again for your cooperation, understanding, and most of all your patience.

[1] The revisions to the Rules and Requirements for the use of the tennis courts and pool include an increase in the number of available tennis courts in the morning sessions in conjunction with the elimination of the afternoon session when it is usually too hot to play;  the addition of a fourth pool session; and the addition of 2 pool exercise classes a week.

Questions, Comments and Answers with Respect to the Recreation

Association’s June 13, 2020 re-opening plan

June 23, 2020

The Recreation Association Board of Directors would like to thank those who have commented on the Association’s plan for the re-opening of our tennis courts and pool during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Board is in the process of reviewing the terms of the re-opening plan in light of those comments, and adjustments may be made.

In the interim, the Board is providing the following answers to many of the questions and comments that have been received.

1. Who is responsible for deciding when and how the Palm Greens recreation facilities will be opened? Why isn’t this up to my Condo? 

The recreation facilities and property are owned and operated by an independent not-for-profit corporation known as the Palm Greens at Villa Del Ray Recreation Condominium Association, Inc.  The Recreation Association’s Board of Directors is responsible for deciding when and how the Association’s facilities will re-open.

Condos 1 & 2 each have 3 seats on the Recreation Association’s 6 member Board of Directors.

2. How has the Recreation Association been keeping Palm Greens residents up to date on the status of the closure of its facilities?

The Recreation Association’s Board of Directors:

• publishes its Covid-19 related announcements on the Recreation Association’s web site (palmgreens.org). A password is not required to access those announcements;
• posts an alert on Channel 63 when a Covid-19 announcement has been posted on the Recreation Association’s website;
• transmits copies of the Board’s announcements to Condos 1 and 2 which then circulate the announcements to their residents in various ways (Condo 1- email, Condo 2 -mailbox postings). [1]

3. How is the Recreation Association funded?

Condos 1 and 2 are required to pay for the operation of the Recreation Association in accordance with an annual budget which is established by the Recreation Association.Condos 1 and 2 then pass those expenses along to their unit owners (currently $59 per month per unit).

4. Since the Recreation facilities are closed, will the Recreation Association refund all or part of the $59 per month?

The Recreation Association may not issue assessment rebates to Condos 1 and 2 or those Condos unit owners:

• Section 2.2 of the Recreation Association’s Articles of Incorporation precludes the Recreation Association from making distributions of income to its members (Condos 1 and 2);
• Section 3.3 of the Recreation Association’s Articles of Incorporation requires that all funds that are not expended for the common expenses of the Association be held in trust for the members of the Association.

The Recreation Association anticipates that by year’s end the costs associated with the maintenance and operation of the Recreation Association will exceed the amounts that were budgeted for 2020, due to Covid-19 expenses and other unanticipated costs.  In the unlikely event that the Association should come in under budget in 2020, the surplus will be retained and applied towards the Association’s future expenses and/or its reserve fund.

5. What will happen if I withhold all or part of the $59 per month from my Condominium’s monthly maintenance charge?

That will not absolve your condominium of its obligation to pay its Recreation Association assessments.  And your condominium’s bylaws contain mechanisms for the collection of unpaid maintenance – you should contact your condominium for more information about that.

6. Other communities have opened tennis courts and pools, therefore the Palm Greens Recreation Association should do so too.

Some communities have opened and some have not.   The Recreation Association’s decisions as to when and to what extent it will open its facilities will be tailored to its own unique circumstances and will take into consideration COVID -19 trends and the interests of the entire Palm Greens community.

7. What sorts of user concerns did the Recreation Association Board of Directors take into consideration in connection with the formulation of its plan for the re-opening of the tennis courts and pool?

The Board had and continues to have extensive discussions with respect to what our re-opening plan should contain.

Virtually every one of the comments, concerns, and objections that the Board has now received were anticipated and discussed at length by the Board, prior to its adoption of the plan.

8. How could the Recreation Association Board of Directors discuss and adopt the plan without adhering to the open meeting provisions of Florida’s Condominium Act (Florida Article 718)?

The Recreation Association is not subject to or governed by the Florida Condominium Act.  It is organized pursuant to and governed by Florida’s Not-for-Profit Corporation Act – Florida Article 617. [2]

The Board acted in accordance with Article 617 and the Recreation Association’s by-laws in discussing and then adopting its re-opening plan by written consent, without a formal meeting.

9. Wouldn’t it have been better for the Board to have circulated a proposed plan first before it adopted its re-opening plan?

Our re-opening dates have not been established, and the terms of the plan are not carved in stone.  The Board welcomes comments and can amend the plan both before and after its implementation.

10. I don’t understand why the Recreation Association is concerned about tennis court and pool users getting the virus and why it needs to obtain insurance to cover the cost of defending Covid-19 lawsuit when the users will be required to sign waivers.

• Waivers of liability do not prevent the spread of the coronavirus between users and staff, and the re-transmission of the virus to nonusers.
• Lawsuits can be filed notwithstanding the existence of a waiver.

11. Why do we need to have a monitor at the pool and tennis courts?

The Recreation Association Board is requiring a monitor in order to better ensure resident compliance with CDC guidelines and state and local requirements which are designed to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.

12. Why is the Board planning to hire a paid monitor in lieu of using existing recreation staff or resident volunteers?

• Recreation Association staff have other duties to perform;

• there have been past incidents where rule violators have ignored the directions of Recreation Association staff, and the directions of volunteers are even more likely to be disregarded;

• volunteers would be less likely to report violations by friends and neighbors;

• Should there be a lack of compliance with the rules, enforcement could very well lead to hard feelings and animosity, particularly if a resident is directed to leave the facility – The Recreation Association does not wish to put its permanent staff, facility users and resident volunteers in that position.

13. Why is the Board worried about the additional un-budgeted Covid-19 expenses that the Recreation Association will incur should it reopen the tennis courts and pool? Doesn’t the Recreation Association have a reserve fund that can be used to cover those expenses?

• The Recreation Association’s reserve fund is already being tapped to cover the cost of non-routine major repairs to the Association’s aging facilities while it awaits 13^th Floor’s completion of the new clubhouse.  That has served to avoid the need for annual increases in Recreation Association assessments.

• Thousands of dollars have already been spent on unbudgeted Covid-19 expenses.

• Since the Recreation Association’s liability insurance does not cover communicable disease claims we need to ensure that we will have sufficient funds in reserve.

14. Why can’t 13^th Floor’s recent payment of $500,000 pursuant to the Development Agreement be used by the Recreation Association to cover its unbudgeted Covid-19 expenses?

The Recreation Association does not have access to those funds.  Per the Development Agreement, those funds were paid to Condos 1 and 2 ($250,000 each).

15. I want to play tennis doubles rather than singles. And I don’t understand why I should have to wear a mask while playing and bring my own tennis balls and mark them with my initials.

• The doubles vs singles issue is being revisited by the Board.

• The Tennis Rules and Requirements do not require residents to wear masks while playing.

• The ball rules are designed to preclude ball sharing in order to minimize the risk of the transmission of Covid-19.

16. Can the pool hours and sessions be expanded and opened up to more users?

I: –   

work full time / prefer to swim in the evening.–    have a medical condition and need more than 45 minutes of pool exercise.–   enjoy hanging out at the pool.–   would like a separate session for the exercise class.

–   don’t believe that it is necessary to limit pool reservations to two sessions per week in order to accommodate everyone.

The pool schedule and reservation system are being revisited by the Board in light of the concerns that have been expressed.

17. How can I contact the Recreation Association?

The Recreation Association Office is located in the Clubhouse Lobby next to the Ballroom.  Visits are by appointment only while the Clubhouse is closed. The office can be contacted by phone, email and postal mail at:

phone: 561-498-5316
email: recreationassociation@palmgreens.org
address: Palm Greens Recreation Association
5801 Via Delray
Delray Beach, FL 33484

[1] The Recreation Association does not have email addresses on file for the majority of the current residents of Palm Greens, and Condos 1 and 2 are not permitted to share that information with the Recreation Association without the residents’ consent.

Condos 1 and 2 have agreed to work with the Recreation Association on securing the necessary resident consents, and to provide the Recreation Association with updates as residents and their email addresses change so that Recreation Association will then have an accurate list of current email addresses.

[2]  A provision that granted the Association all of the powers set forth in the Condominium Act was eliminated from the Association’s Articles of Incorporation in 1991.

Palm Greens Recreation Condominium Association

Pool and tennis court closures – status update

May 30, 2020

 
The Recreation Association Board of Directors has extended the closure of the Palm Greens tennis courts and pool for two weeks.
 
We are concerned:

1. that the CDC has not lifted its “stay home if possible” guidance for seniors;

2. that the Palm Beach County infection rate has risen over the last 30 days;

3. that professional security will be required to ensure our residents’ compliance with social distancing mandates; and to implement and enforce the other arrangements and limitations on the use of the facilities that will be needed to guard against the transmission of the virus to users and Palm Greens staff (and non-users with whom they have contact)

4. that the Recreation Association’s liability insurance policy does not cover claims arising from the transmission of communicable diseases; and

5. that the entire Palm Greens community will bear the additional non-routine costs and risks that would be associated with the opening up of the tennis courts and/or the pool on a very limited basis for the benefit a relatively small number of residents.

The Recreation Association Board of Directors will revisit the closure issue on June 11, 2020.   In the interim, the Board will be discussing the restrictions that we could impose in connection with the use of the tennis courts and pool, whether those measures would be adequate and whether a special assessment would be needed.

We welcome resident input with respect to these issues and thank you all for your patience, understanding, and support during this difficult time.