Last Update: 10/24/2007

Oakridge Neighborhood Association Environmental

by Don Pattie

Our environment is changing – and in Oakridge it’s just getting better and better!  Our Oakridge Beautification Team (a designation I just made up for those brave souls who planned and planted) has just started the redoing of the landscaping at the entrances.  Having been delayed by the continuous rains in the spring, only the east side of the entrance at Buckingham and Diamond Oaks has been completed so far but the rest is coming soon.  

As we all know the cost of utilities (electric and water) continues to go up.  New timers have been put on the entrance sign lights and tree lights (at the Ridge Oaks entrance).  The timers are set so the lights come on at dark and stay on only two hours and then shut off until the next night.  This should cut our electric bill by two thirds at least.

In another cost saving measure the sprinklers have been turned off except at the entrance planting beds.  This is an experiment.  It was noticed that last year the grass strips along Jupiter and Belt Line, which have no sprinklers, seemed to stay as green as the rest that got watered twice a week.  We will see if it all stays green this year.  If not, we’ll turn the sprinklers back on.

Our Landscape Maintenance Contractor, U S Lawn Service run by Fred Kaminski, is doing a good job.  On a regular basis keeping everything neat and trimmed you will see Fred, his crew and his watch dogs (they watch Fred mow the grass).  Fred says that one continuing problem we have and don’t seem to have any control over is people driving along the busy main drags of Buckingham, Belt Line, Shilo and Jupiter throwing trash out their car windows faster than his crew can pick it up. 

Don Pattie

Environmental Director