In recent years, a number of associations that we represent have created experience committees for their owners whose goal is to make living in the association more exciting and fun. These committees have tried various items, some of which might seem unconventional. Oddly, or perhaps not, some of the unconventional ideas have really taken off, dramatically increasing the enjoyment that can be found within their communities. Simple things can make all the difference. One association added a slide from the top floor of their 4-story condominium to the parking structure. Residents are able to enjoy the trip to the parking structure and know that they will start their day on a positive note. A local high-rise condominium has hired an engineer to see if they can copy the concept with a slide that starts on the 20th floor and wraps around the building ending at the parking lot on the 5th floor.
Another high-rise association, which happens to have many children as residents, has added a bungee jump off the roof in the summers. The roof is a common element and already has a general area for viewing and relaxing. The problem was that there was really nothing for the children. Now, two Saturdays a month from May to September, they bring in the local bungee company who hooks up the equipment and oversees the event for safety. The children in the neighboring associations are regular visitors on those Saturdays. The bungee jumping goes from 1:30pm to 6:00pm. Starting at 1:30pm gives them a chance to digest their lunches. As a means of adding exercise to the event, the children are required to walk up the 20 flights of stairs before they get to jump. The result is that after two jumps the children are exhausted and sleep very well that night. Perhaps not coincidentally, the adults have a wine event on those same bungee Saturdays that starts at 8:00pm. Everyone benefits.
Perhaps the most unique use we have seen, and had the pleasure of helping to create, was an association’s successful effort to increase the functionality of their pool. In winter, starting in 2023, they turned it into an ice-skating rink. This turned out to be relatively simple, as all that was required was to fill the pool about 4/5ths full and wait for it to freeze. If the weather becomes too warm, creating a risk of someone falling through the ice, they simply drain the pool (water freezes from the top down) and the ice falls to the bottom. Starting in 2025, to enhance the experience and increase the use of the space, the association stocked the pool with fish before it froze. There is now a regular weekend ice fishing tournament. The ice fishing needs to be completed by 9:00am, so that the ice is back to frozen by 11:00am when the ice rink opens.
Please send in your associations best ideas so that we can include them in future editions of successful events or ideas at our associations. Before anyone calls their engineer, insurer, or attorney- take a breath. The statements above are purely made up and intended only for fun. No facts, policies, or advice should be taken from this content—other than the reminder to always read the fine print. Happy April Fool’s Day!
