Get to know your neighbors, improve your community, and connect with your local government. Make a difference!

What is a Neighborhood Association?

A neighborhood association is people living within a designated area of the Village who are concerned about issues affecting their area and who have decided to work together to protect and ensure a better social, economic, and business climate in their neighborhood.

By acting as a voice for the neighborhood residents, an official link to local government and the larger community, a neighborhood association can improve your community. Many residents find that by banding together, they are better able to meet the collective needs of the neighborhood.

A neighborhood association is not the same as a homeowners association (HOA).  HOAs include codes and dues that must be followed per a developer agreement.

How to Become a Village-Recognized Neighborhood Association

4-7 neighbors willing to start a neighborhood association meet to do the following:

  • Clearly define a boundary with 150-1200 homes
  • Agree upon a name
  • Develop a mission statement
  • Work with Village staff to develop bylaws
  • After initial planning, membership is open to all residents who live within the defined boundaries
  • Plan the first public “annual meeting,” where a board of directors is elected by the neighborhood at large

How Can the Village Assist Neighborhood Associations?

  • Provide professional assistance and direction for the Planning Committee
  • Help with neighborhood outreach when association is first formed
  • Make copies for the initial neighborhood outreach letter
  • Utilization of the Village Hall or other public spaces for the neighborhood association meetings
  • Provide speakers or ideas for neighborhood meetings

What Can a Neighborhood Association Do Once Established?

  • Produce a neighborhood newsletter
  • Organize block parties and picnics
  • Clean up a neighborhood park
  • Request traffic counts or street signs
  • Educate residents about zoning issues and new developments that might impact the area
  • Organize recreational activities
  • Represent neighborhood interests to government and media
  • Form a committee to address problem properties in the neighborhood

Interested in Getting Started?

Contact:

Becky works part-time and is generally in the office on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

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