Sustainable Landscape Resources for Community Associations City Teams

Sustainable Landscape Resources for Community Associations & City Teams – A National Arbor Day Foundation program A City Team Beth Corrigan, The Morton Arboretum John Mesarchik, Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation & Edith Makra, Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden

NAHC Landscaping Survey • Approximately 50 respondents ▫ MANY commonalities across region ▫ Majority of HOA’s are mandatory – 96% ▫ Developments from 1958 - 1999 Chicago suburbs survey Property type

Survey Results What is your HOA's annual Landscape Budget? Areas of your HOA's property are most problematic Of the following, which are located in common areas? Does your HOA have a Landscape Committee?

City Teams – Partners In Community Forestry Conference, Orlando, FL • National Arbor Day Foundation program § Goal = bringing together non-traditional partnerships • NAHC § The most active & effective HOA umbrella group § An advocate for homeowners § A stage for speakers to address concerns of Naperville area residents. § A conduit bringing government to the people • SLRCA § Multi-discipline group § Mission: educate HOA’s on sustainable landscape management

Regional pictures of HOAs Our 7 county metro Chicago area • Land in subdivisions served by HOAs: ~160, 000 acres ▫ Region’s total residential area: 754, 560 acres ▫ 21% of all residential area is under HOA • Landscape in subdivisions served by HOAs: ~95, 000 acres �This is area influenced or directly managed by HOA’s ▫ For comparison – Du Page County: 215, 040 acres ▫ Landscaped area alone = 44% of 2 nd most populous county • Common areas in HOAs: 27, 623 acres �Definitely managed by HOAs

Homeowners (Community) Associations as Urban Forest Stewards • Where are the trees? ▫ Only 1. 7 % of urban trees are street trees! ▫ How HOA’s manage landscapes much more important • Homeowners (Community) Associations also manage �Water �Lawns �Wildlife �Woodlands �Herbaceous plants �Infrastructure HOAs govern 24. 8 million American homes and 62 million residents ▫ Impactful for urban ecological health

SLRCA Manual – Due by end of 2012 • Chapters will include ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Context in HOA Value Challenges in managing Best management approach Steps to implementation Connection to other landscape elements Basic information (biology)