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 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.
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:
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:
8:15 AM: check-in and admittance 10:00 AM: session play ends, residents exit
Shuffleboard – effective September 16, 2020:
10:15 AM: check-in and admittance
11:30 AM: session play ends, residents exit
Pool – effective September 17, 2020:
9:00 AM:check-in and admittance
10:15 AM:session 1 ends, residents exit
10:30 AM:check-in and admittance
11:45 AM:session 2 ends, residents exit
1:15 PM:check-in and admittance
2:30 PM:session 3 ends, residents exit
2:45 PM:check-in and admittance
4:00 PM:session 4 ends, residents exit
—————————————————————————————————-
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 2nd
Pool: Thursday, September 3rd
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:
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.
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.
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.
The Recreation Association’s Board of Directors:
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).
The Recreation Association may not issue assessment rebates to Condos 1 and 2 or those Condos unit owners:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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:
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.
Palm Greens Recreation Condominium Association
Pool and tennis court closures – status update
May 12, 2020
The past 2 months have been a difficult time for all concerned.
As many of our residents are aware, Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County are at the epicenter of the outbreak in Florida. Accordingly, the Governor has exempted those counties from many of his statewide orders and allowed those counties to regulate the closure and re-opening of various facilities, including community pools and tennis courts.
Palm Beach County recently authorized the limited re-opening of community pools and tennis courts. However, in order to reduce the risk of the virus’ transmission, the County’s order requires that the operators of those facilities “ensure” that social distancing, CDC guidelines, and various County imposed conditions on the use of such facilities are complied with.
User self-monitoring does not satisfy the County Order, and there is no doubt that incidents of non-compliance would significantly increase the risk for the further spread of the virus and endanger the wider community.
As you know, the Palm Greens pool and tennis courts are unstaffed. Our budget makes no provision for the retention of monitors. Many 55 and older communities in our area have declined to open their pools and tennis courts for at least the balance of this month, due to the lack of facility monitors and the risk that the virus poses to persons over the age of 60.
The Palm Greens Recreation Association Board has carefully considered whether we can and should re-open the pool and/or tennis courts, and if so when. The Board has concluded that those will facilities should remain closed for now. The Board will revisit this issue at the end of May. We believe that this decision is in the best interests of the residents of Palm Greens and the wider community.
We realize that this decision will disappoint some and be met with relief by others. Either way, we wish to thank each and every resident for your patience, cooperation, understanding, and support.
Palm Greens Recreation Condominium Association
5801 Via Delray
Delray Beach, FL 33484
561-498-5316
web site: PalmGreens.org
April 1, 2020
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
The Recreation Association Board of Directors and staff wish to thank everyone for their understanding, cooperation and support for the steps that the Recreation Association has taken to do its part in stemming the tide of the spread of the Corona Virus. We share your disappointment over the closure of our indoor and outdoor recreation facilities and regret that that was necessary.
This month’s Pulse article by Rec Board member Bob Heckman, which discusses all that the Recreation Association has to offer, was submitted for publication at the end of February, before Bob and the Board had any inkling of the gravity of the situation that we now face and the need to shut down our facilities. That being said, Bob’s article will serve as a reminder as to what we can look forward to once it is safe to resume normal operations. In the interim, our Recreation Association staff have been busy maintaining the facilities, sprucing things up, and working on various projects that are more easily done when our facilities are closed.
As in past years, the April edition of the Pulse will be the last of the season, and the Pulse is not scheduled to resume publication until October, 2020. A copy of the April edition of the Pulse has been posted on the Recreation Association web site’s public home page, and can be read and/or downloaded from there: PalmGreens.org Important Recreation Association announcements will continue to be posted on Chanel 63, as well the Recreation Association’s web site: PalmGreens.org. In addition, should you have a question or concern you may contact the Recreation Association Office by phone at 561-498-5316.
Again, we thank everyone for your understanding and cooperation and wish you the best during these difficult times.