Greenbrook Walk battles pool trespassers

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Every morning, Carl Walp can look out his front window or step out his front door to see the light shimmering off his neighborhood’s pool.

It’s a view Walp has enjoyed since moving to Greenbrook Walk with his wife a few years ago. But now, his frustration — and the frustration of fellow board members on the Greenbrook Walk Condominium Association board — is mounting.

“We have a big problem with people trespassing,” Walp said. “The pool is strictly for Greenbrook Walk residents. You have to have a key to the gate. People are jumping the fence and trampling vegetation in the process.”

The pool facility in Greenbrook Walk is available only to Greenbrook Walk condominium owners and renters. Key access is required for both the pool area and restroom facilities, there, and the Greenbrook Walk Condominium Association is taking seriously its commitment to protect the pool as a community asset.

“We’re looking for everybody to cooperate to help us keep a clean, safe environment we can all enjoy,” Walp said. “We have a beautiful community. We just want to keep it that way.”

Just two weeks ago, Walp found the pool’s safety flotation device broken into three pieces strewn about the pool and a grassy area beside it. Even furniture has been broken.

“We’ve called the police, and there have been a few people cited with trespassing, both juveniles and adults,” Walp said.

Walp met with deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office recently to gather tips on how to better combat the problem. The condo association already uses video surveillance to monitor the pool area, and board members are hoping to get the word out to increase safety at the facility and to protect the asset for which its members pay for upkeep and insurance.

Condo Association President Allison Cohen said board members will report any incidents they see.
“We’re absolutely not afraid to prosecute,” she said.

And although guests of Greenbrook Walk residents can enjoy the pool in the company of residents, it will not keep them from getting cited from trespassing if they and the resident come outside official pool hours, which run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily.

Cohen also noted that Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed into law a measure that essentially will allow the board to suspend pool privileges of Greenbrook Walk homeowners who are behind on condo association dues starting on July 1.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

POOL RULES
• Use of the Greenbrook Walk pool is for Greenbrook Walk residents only.

• Pool hours are 8 a.m., to 8 p.m., daily. Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

• Greenbrook Walk residents who are at the pool after 8 p.m. will be asked to leave. Any guests with them who are not residents will be cited for trespassing.