The Commons

After much thought and after reviewing the results of our Resident Survey, we have decided to transform the pool area into a beautifully landscaped space called "The Commons" which can be enjoyed by more of our residents. The results of our Resident Survey showed that most of our residents do not use the pool. In fact, one resident stated that his household used the pool because it was "never busy."

Other factors that affected our decision were the extensive costs associated with operating a large pool and the upcoming availability of an alternative summertime activity for our residents. Keeping the pool open for ninety (90) days each year costs approximately $20,000. In addition, on Memorial Day weekend, the City of Fairview Park is opening the new $120,000 Morton Splash Park adjacent to Aberdeen Commons.

We have retained the award winning design company, Lifestyle Landscaping, to design a new look and use for the current pool area. The unattractive concrete will be transformed into beautiful mounded areas of evergreens, flowering shrubs and seating areas. Lifestyle's design is shown above and can also be downloaded in the form of a PDF file (see left). We hope you'll be as excited about the changes as we are! You can also visit Lifestyle's website to see additional samples of their outstanding work.

When discussing our vision for The Commons with Lifestyle, we gave them the following goals to consider:

1. Transform the pool area into an attractive, inviting area so that The Commons can be enjoyed by more residents for more than ninety (90) days each year;
2. Create "privacy zones" for residents to grill or picnic;
3. Create buffer zones for current pool side residents;
4. Respect the privacy of current pool side residents; and
5. Design The Commons so that "it closes" at sunset in order to protect the peaceful enjoyment of the current pool side residents.

Transforming the pool area into The Commons will be done in three (3) phases:

Phase I - April through August 2003

Demolish the pool house, fill in the pool and forever remove the pool's institutional chain link fence. Allow and monitor the newly compacted soil for settling.

Phase II - September 2003

Using bulldozers, grade and change the topography of the land to create subtle slopes. Plant lawn and trees. Continue to monitor the compacted soil for settling.

Phase III - April 2004

Install shrubs, flowers and ornamental grasses. Install stamped, colored cement patios for picnic tables and charcoal grills.

All construction vehicles will be accessing the pool area through Parking Lot J. We are excited about the addition of Morton Splash Park and The Commons.