The Pool Is Open…Probably Warm…Possibly Blessed 🏊♂️🧛♂️🌞
Hello Richland! Ah, almost June. You know what that means. The school year comes skidding to a halt, backpacks are launched into closets like they owe someone money, lunchboxes are discovered in conditions best described as “federal investigation pending,” and children everywhere begin their annual transformation from students into full-time snack goblins.
The buses are gone. The homework folders have vanished. The alarm clocks have been silenced. Across Richland, parents are bravely entering summer armed with sunscreen, "mommy cups", pool towels, and the haunted knowledge that someone will ask for a snack approximately every seven minutes until August.
And of course, the ancient summer question has returned:
“Can we go to the pool?”
Yes, Richland. The pool is open! 🏊♀️ It has been since mid-April! Well, open and mostly usable. Definitely usable. Probably warm enough to be usable.
And the heaters? Well. Let’s talk about the heaters.
As many of you know, our pool heaters are not new. They have been with us for a few years now, faithfully attempting to extend the swim season and protecting us from SBPS (shrinking body part syndrome) from that first step-into-the-water experience normally reserved for mountain streams, polar bears, and bad decisions.
For a while, they worked. Then they did not work. Then they worked again. Then they thought about working. Then they briefly remembered their purpose.
Now we are not entirely sure whether they are heating the pool, contemplating retirement, creating a union agreement with the mushroom pool heater, or simply waiting until someone from the Board walks away before misbehaving again.
At this point, the heaters have become less “amenity” and more “mysterious aquatic personality.” Some days the pool feels pleasantly warm. Other days it feels like it has been spiritually prepared by a glacier.
Speaking of spiritual preparation…
We have received unconfirmed reports that a priest has recently swum in the pool. Therefore, to our night-swimming community members, especially any vampires, half-vampires, vampire-adjacent residents, or those who simply prefer SPF 4200, please be advised: the water may or may not now contain trace amounts of holiness. 🧛♀️💦✝️
We are not saying the pool is unsafe for vampires. We are also not saying it is safe. Please dip one toe in first and proceed according to your personal supernatural risk tolerance. Werewolves, as always, are reminded to shake off before entering the clubhouse.
Ok…for real though: the pool is open, summer is here, and we are excited for another season of sunshine, neighbors, pool noodles, beach balls, Italian ice, and children launching themselves into the water with the grace and subtlety of caffeinated cannonballs.
Welcome to Summer, Richland! 🌴☀️
—Your Richland HOA Department of Aquatic Uncertainty
Upcoming Events 🎉
Pool Opening Party / Luau — June 14th 🌺🏖️
Break out the Hawaiian shirts, floral prints, sunglasses, leis, and anything else that says, “I am ready for summer and may have purchased this shirt on vacation during a moment of tropical optimism.”
The Richland HOA Board will be grilling, and the Social Committee will be acting as your cruise director for this year's Pool Opening Party on:
Sunday, June 14th
Planned festivities include:
🌺 🎧 DJ and music
🍧 Italian Ices for the first 150 people, adults and children included
🍧 Additional Italian Ices available for purchase after that
🌸 Leis
🏐 Approximately 100 beach balls and pool noodles
🌞 General summer merriment
🕺 and at least one person who takes the luau theme a little too seriously
Beach balls and pool noodles will be distributed throughout the event so we do not accidentally create a foam-based stampede at the start of the party. We have learned things. We grow. We are still paying the insurance claims!
A huge thank you in advance to Kathy, Gani, Cornell, Carol, Siobahn, and everyone helping behind the scenes to make this event happen.
Hawaiian shirts are strongly encouraged. Not required, but strongly encouraged. Bonus points if it looks like a parrot, a hibiscus, and a sunset got into an argument on your torso.
Watch Richlander.com and the Richland Facebook page for final details.
Bingo Returns — June 24th 🎲
BINGO is back!
Join us on:
Wednesday, June 24th
This will be the first Bingo night of the summer season. Bingo will return on the 4th Wednesday of every month, so mark your calendars, dust off your lucky charms, and prepare your best “I was only one number away” expression.
🌊 Richland Waves Swim Team Practice & Home Meets 🏊♀️🏊♂️
splashes, and the unmistakable sound of swimmers turning our lap pool into a high-speed aquatic traffic pattern. The Richland Waves are back in the water! 🌊
Summer Swim Team Practice
Swim team practice in the lap pool will take place:
Monday through Friday
8:00 am – 11:00 am
Beginning May 26th and continuing through Friday, July 10th
During these practice times, the lap pool will be closed for swim team practice. The mushroom feature pool will remain available during regular pool hours.
Home Swim Meets at Richland
We will host 3 home swim meets at the Richland pool this season. All home meets are on Thursday evenings:
Thursday, May 28
Thursday, June 11
Thursday, June 18
On these dates, the lap pool will close at 4:00 pm for the swim meet. The mushroom feature pool will remain open for regular pool hours.
We will also open the pool gate near the tennis courts during swim meets for easier pool access.
Come cheer on our swimmers, support the Richland Waves, and enjoy one of the great summer traditions in our community.
GO WAVES! 🌊🏅
Congratulations 2026 Richland Graduates! 🎓💚
If you have driven by the clubhouse recently, you may have noticed our annual graduate banner proudly
displayed out front — and if you missed it, please feel free to drive by again slowly, admire responsibly, and resist the urge to honk unless you are prepared to explain yourself to nearby dog walkers.
Richland is proud to celebrate our 2026 high school and college graduates! 🎉
To our high school graduates: congratulations on surviving early alarms, group projects, cafeteria food, parking lots, exams, and the mysterious disappearance of every pencil you have ever owned.
To our college graduates: congratulations on essays, labs, internships, late nights, early mornings, student parking, ramen-based budgeting, and successfully proving that “I’ll start tomorrow” can sometimes still result in a degree.
Whether you are heading to college, starting a career, taking a well-earned break, joining the workforce, pursuing additional training, or still figuring it all out — Richland is cheering you on.
We are so proud of each of you and excited to see where life takes you next. May your next chapter be full of opportunity, adventure, good decisions, and just enough questionable decisions to make the stories interesting.
Congratulations, Richland Class of 2026! 🎓🌟
You made it, and your neighborhood is proud of you.
Richland Social Committee Update 🌟
The Richland Social Committee has been busy planning, organizing, adjusting, improving, and generally doing the unpaid volunteer magic that makes Richland events happen.
Eggstravaganza Recap 🐣
The Eggstravaganza was an incredible success!
A huge THANK YOU to Siobahn Dawkins, Gani Shittu, Jill Jones, Cornell Cullom, Kathy Burnette, and Carol Frye for bringing together a truly outstanding, high-energy, Fun for Everyone Eggstravaganza at Richland.
The RSC stuffed and hid over 2,042 eggs for children of all ages. Families enjoyed arts and crafts, exciting egg hunts, and unforgettable photo moments with the Easter Bunny.
A special shoutout also goes to Collins Hill High School for the amazing student volunteers. Their support helped make the day even more special.
Social Committee Meetings 💻
The May, June, and July monthly Social Committee meetings will be virtual.
When: 4th Thursday of the month
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Virtual
If you enjoy planning events, helping during events, setting up, cleaning up, passing out leis, inflating beach balls, directing confused residents, or simply saying “that looks festive” while holding a clipboard, the RSC would love to have you.
Email: Social@richlander.com
Pool Notes and Summer Reminders☀️
The pool is open for the season. Please remember to follow posted pool rules, supervise children, be respectful to pool staff and neighbors, and clean up before you leave.
A few friendly reminders:
🚫 No glass at the pool.
🗑️ Please throw away trash.
🩴 Take towels, toys, goggles, shoes, snack wrappers, and mysterious abandoned items home with you.
👀 Keep an eye on children in and around the water.
🙏 Be patient with pool operations, especially while the heaters continue their emotional journey.
🧛 Night swimmers should evaluate the water carefully before entering, especially if holy water exposure is a concern.
Again, the heaters have been around for a few years, but lately they have become a little unreliable. They worked, then they did not, then they worked again, and now we are in what experts call “a developing situation.”
We will continue to monitor them, discuss them, repair them, encourage them, and, if necessary, glare at them from a respectful distance.
📚Community Amenities
Richland Sharing LibraryJust a reminder – we have small community library at the clubhouse. Feel free to pick up or drop off a book. If you do want to donate a book for others to enjoy, please place them on the shelves. The library is located on the pool side of the clubhouse. There is a wide variety including romance, self help, historical fiction and science fiction.
The Richland Book Club
The Richland Book Clubs meets the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Clubhouse. If you aren't sure which one that is, the Book Club usually puts out signs in front of the clubhouse leading up to the meeting! Please contact Ingrid Shell directly at ingrid.r.shell@gmail.com for more details.
Richland Fire-pit
Just a reminder, Richland has 1 community fire pit. It's located behind the tennis courts closest to the clubhouse. There are also two park style grills as well as 4 built in benches around the pit. Fire-pit and grills are first come first serve. You can reserve the pavilions on either side using reservemycourt.com. Please plan to bring your own wood, and please be sure to completely put out the fire when you are finished. There is a creek right behind the fire-pit - use as much water as you need - we'll make more!
Richland Trails
For those of you who have been following the epic trail saga — good news! We finally have the long-awaited bridge connecting the two Richland trails. That means our two inviting gravel trails are now linked, making it easier to enjoy a longer walk, jog, nature stroll, or dramatic woodland escape from your responsibilities. The first trail is accessible behind the lower tennis courts on Quinton Road. Just follow the concrete sidewalk until you reach the gravel path. The second trail, part of the Phase 2 expansion, can be accessed by walking the sidewalk to Hunt River Way and follows the creek opposite the original trail. And now, thanks to the new bridge, you can cross between them like a proper Richland adventurer. 🌉 Also, while we have received no confirmed reports of trolls living under the bridge, it is probably best not to answer any riddles from below unless you are very confident in your fairy-tale lore.
Tennis and Pickleball Courts!
We have three pavilions available to reserve through reservemycourt.com. Whether you're planning a party, gathering, or event, these pavilions are perfect for any occasion. There is no cost to reserve them.
Our clubhouse is also available for rent at richlander.com. It’s an ideal location for hosting events, meetings, or celebrations.
Playground
Richland HOA Minutes and Management Updates
- Jay Bulot – President
- Alan Meeks – VP
- Don Tam – Treasurer
- Sandra Hill – Secretary
- Ricky Fiorillo – Member at Large
Clubhouse 🏠
The clubhouse kitchen flooring was replaced under warranty at a value of approximately $1,700.
We are continuing to monitor the cleaning company’s service and schedule to make sure the clubhouse and pool-area facilities are being maintained appropriately as we move into heavier spring and summer usage.
Current Cleaning Schedule
Upstairs Clubhouse:
Twice per week — Mondays and Thursdays
Downstairs / Pool-Level Facilities:
Bi-weekly: October 15 – March 30
Two times per week: April
Three times per week: May – June
Two times per week: July – October
As always, residents can help by cleaning up after clubhouse use, throwing away trash, and making sure the facility is left in good condition for the next group.
Landscaping and Grounds 🌳
Several landscaping and grounds projects are either complete, pending, or under discussion.
The Richlake picket fence repair work has been completed. Staining is still pending.
The Taylor Road green fence repair work has also been completed, with stain work still pending.
The Board is discussing new picnic tables and potential placement locations.
Replacement signage for Wildwood Lake Swan signage is still pending.
The Board has reviewed pricing for a replacement Blue Atlas Cedar.
Waste Management was scheduled to pick up broken containers, and the old containers have now been removed.
Pool 🏊♀️
The pool opened early this year on April 4th.
We are continuing to monitor pool temperatures. A manual thermometer was reading higher in the feature pool than the thermostat, because apparently even thermometers now want to participate in the Richland Pool Heater Mystery Universe.
PASS security is scheduled to begin on May 20th, which is also the last day of school. In other words, right when the pool begins its transformation into the official headquarters of summer.
Tennis and Pickleball 🎾🏓
Lower tennis court resurfacing is being scheduled.
The Board is also reviewing matters related to Pickleball League / ALTA non-resident fees.
Please continue to respect court reservation rules and posted guidelines so all residents can enjoy the amenities.
Trails 🥾
Boulders for the retaining wall at the ramp entrance to the bridge are pending.
This work is intended to help stabilize the ramp entrance area and improve the long-term condition of the trail access point and eliminate potential living spaces for trolls.
Lakes 🌊
The Board is continuing to review work related to the Richlake OCS.
Quotes received include:
Georgia Stormwater Services:
$17,000
Greystone International:
$2,521 to siphon lake
$2,500 to unclog drain
$3,521 to repair bank with rip rap on the other side of the spillway
Total: $8,542 — pending
Lake infrastructure projects are rarely exciting, but they are important. Also, anything involving siphoning, drains, rip rap, and spillways sounds like it should come with either an engineering degree or a pirate map.
Amendment Update 🗳️
As of April 14th, the amendment vote count was at 480.
Additional votes are still needed before the amendment can be finalized. Residents who have not yet voted are encouraged to do so when reminders are sent out. Every vote matters, and yes, we know HOA voting is not quite as exciting as picking your favorite barbecue sauce or arguing about college football, but it is still important.
Stay Connected 📲
Stay up to date with Richland events and announcements through the Richlander.com App and the Richland Facebook page.
That is where you will find the latest updates, event reminders, schedule changes, and possibly the first confirmed sighting of a fully cooperative pool heater.
Happy June, Richland.
May your summer be sunny, your pool water pleasant, your ice cream cold, your Bingo cards lucky, your beach balls inflated, and your children tired enough at the end of the day to fall asleep before asking for one more snack.
For those of you sticking around long enough and reading this on May 25:
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