Keeping in the Loop

Spring is Here!

Sun's Out. Neighbors Out. Slow Down.

With warmer temperatures and longer days, more of us are out and about—walking along paths, crossing streets, riding bikes and scooters, and pushing strollers. Our neighborhoods are full of life this time of year.

To all drivers, young and old, please take extra care. Slow down, come to a complete stop at stop signs, and stay alert for pedestrians—whether they’re in a crosswalk or not. A little extra attention can make a big difference.

We’re all neighbors in this wonderful community we call Forest Lakes. Let’s look out for one another by driving slowly, safely, and with awareness whenever we’re on our roads. You'll get home safely - let's make sure everyone else does too.

Great Yards Make Great Neighborhoods

How could Forest Lakes possibly get any better, you ask? One simple way is by everyone taking a fresh look at the spaces right outside their doors. That’s right—it’s time for a spring refresh! Dust off the mower, order your mulch, and give your home’s exterior a quick inspection. A little seasonal upkeep goes a long way in keeping our community looking its best. Here are a few things to check as you get started:

• Is your house green? Need a power wash?
• Are your shutters faded? Need to be repainted?
• Are your beds raked, weeded and mulched?
• Is your mailbox in good repair? Is the post in good shape?
• Is your front porch clear of excess items?
• Back yards matter too! Clear out that pile of sticks and logs you've been collecting; no "junk" lying around.

Remember, any changes to the outside of your home need ARB approval. This includes door and shutter color changes! For an ARB form, click here.

Thanks to owners and renters alike for making Forest Lakes looking great - all year long.

BUNKO, MAH JONGG and POKER

Bunko will continue on the 3rd Thursday of each month, at 7:00 in the Pavilion. Next date is April 16th. No sign up, just come! Bring a snack to share if you'd like and your own beverage. Questions? email Kate at ksyms82@gmail.com.

Mah Jongg is now open to all Forest Lakes Mah Jongg players! To sign up, click here Mah Jongg is every Tuesday in the Pavilion at 6:30PM.

Poker is scheduled for Thursday April 23rd from 7-10 in the Pavilion. Just show up!

Bunko and Mah Jongg and Poker are for Forest Lakes residents only.

Shred Day/Bulk Pick Up Dates

Spring Shred Day has been scheduled for Friday, April 17th from 10am - 1pm in the FL North parking lot.

Spring Bulk Pick up is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th.

For details on both, click HERE.

FOREST LAKES SWIM TEAM

Registration is Open!

We are excited to dive into our 36^th season in 2026 and can't wait to see you all back in the pool! Our new website and registration platform Swimtopia is now live. Please visit us at: https://forest lakes swim team.swimtopia.com. This is a new platform for all JSL teams. If you have any difficulty, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions to: FLSTChairman@gmail.com. For any new residents who are interested in joining The Hurricanes, please reach out to this email address as well! Go Hurricanes!

INVASION IN PROGRESS - FLIP NEEDS YOU!

Would you like to learn more about plants and trees? Would you like to learn about invasive vines, bushes, and plants, what they are, the threat they pose, and how to manage them? Do you like using our trails? Would you like to work outside and get a lot of fresh air? 

If you answered yes to any of these, join the Forest Lakes Invasive Plant (FLIP) volunteer crew to help “Preserve the forest in Forest Lakes”, protect the beauty of our common areas, and maintain the usability of our trails! Next workdays are April 11 10-12 and April 25 9:30-11:30. Email John (below) for details.

Contact the FLCA Office, 434/973.4596 or John Oliver (johndoliver@comcast.net) for further information.

VDOT - CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENTS

IN FOREST LAKES

Beginning Monday, April 13th VDOT will begin pedestrian curb ramp improvements within our community. This will take place along the paths in Forest Lakes South, with path closures throughout the project. Please read VDOT's announcement for details and a map. If you have any questions, please call the FLCA office.



Membersplash

Time to Update!

Pools Open Saturday, May 23rd

All accounts on Membersplash have been deactivated and children's pictures have been removed to be updated. To be reactivated for summer 2026, please follow the instructions below.

1.  Log into your Membersplash account . Don’t remember your password? You can reset if by clicking “Retrieve Username & Password”.
2. Agree to the 2026 Pool Rules by clicking on the blue document icon next to the Adult Member’s name. Please go over rules with all family members.
3.  Pictures need to be updated for all members in the “Child 5^th grade and under” category or if any significant appearance changes have taken place for any member! Make sure it looks like YOU and is just a head shot - nothing else.
4. If your child will be a rising 6^th grader this summer, please update their member type to “Independent Swimmer”. If your child is now 18 and still living with you, please update their member type to “Adult”. You can edit the member type by clicking “edit” or the three blue dots to the right of that member’s name.

Your account should be reactivated within one week after submitting. Please check your email for an “APPROVED” notice from the forest lakes gmail account. If you don’t receive an email within a week, please call the FLCA office. 434/973.4596.

NOTE:

• Your 10 free guests passes for 2026 will be added to your account.
• If you have a family member listed on your account but they no longer live with you, please remove them. A Member listed under your account must have the same permanent address as you with the exception of a nanny/caregiver.
•  If you are a lessee, the FLCA office must have a lease with an end date past 5/31/2026 on file or your account will not be activated.

LEGACY ACCOUNTS:

Follow the same instructions as above. Once the required steps have been completed, click “pay now”. You will need to re-select which Legacy membership you are requesting (Single, Couple, or Family). Once payment has been received, you will receive an approval email. A legacy account is only for children of residents who live in the Charlottesville area who would like to use our pools for the 2026 season. Legacy members may not bring guests into the pool.

NANNY/CAREGIVER:

All 2025 nanny/caregivers have been deleted from Membersplash. If you have a nanny/caregiver for summer 2026, you will need to add them to your account as a new family member. Once they have been added, select “MAKE A PAYMENT”. Then select “NANNY/CAREGIVER” pass and continue with payment. Once payment has been received, the family account will be activated. Nannies/caregivers may only use the pools when they are with their charges. They may not bring any other children/adults/guests into the pools with them at any time. Families may not share caregivers.

NEW TO FOREST LAKES?

You'll need to create a new Membersplash Account. Click HERE for directions and link.

SWIM LESSONS

Registration Opens May 4

Central Virginia Swim will once again be offering group and private lessons this summer. Registration for residents begins on May 4th at 10am. Click HERE for the informational flyer with session dates.

LIFEGUARDS - It's time to Apply!

Whether you are a returning guard or a new one, it's time to apply for the best summer job ever! Work close to home, with people you know for people you know. Gain great work experience you'll carry with you for years to come. Click HERE for where to apply.

EARTH DAY - April 22nd

2026 Theme: "Our Power Our Planet"

The official theme for 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet.” This theme emphasizes that meaningful environmental progress and everyday actions of individuals and communities create lasting global impact. Here are things you can do this Earth Day (and every day!):

• Plant native flowers or shrubs near your home: Choose native species that thrive in our area to support pollinators and require less water and maintenance. Virginia Native Plants
• Add a tree to your yard (if space allows): Even one tree can provide shade, improve air quality, and enhance the neighborhood’s overall green space.
• Create a small pollinator corner: Dedicate a patch of your yard or a planter box to flowers that attract bees and butterflies, helping strengthen the local ecosystem. And they're fun to watch!
• Pick up litter during a walk: Bring a bag on your daily walk and collect trash along paths and common areas you pass. Unfortunately, we seem to have more and more litter being thrown from cars along our roadsides. Our landscapers pick up periodically, but they cannot get it all!
• Join FLIP - save a tree, cut out invasives and beautify our wooded areas! See article above.
• Take a Nature Walk or a Labyrinth Walk with the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont.

Invasive Species of the Month

Tree of Heaven

If you ask me, the Tree of Heaven (left) would be better named the tree from H-E double hockey sticks! It is not only invasive and hard to eliminate, but it serves as a host for the new invasive pest, the spotted lanternfly (see picture below)! Importantly, Forest Lakes is partnering with

D & D Lawncare to treat the trees this summer, so if you recognize one, let the office know where it is. 

The Tree of Heaven was brought from China in the 1700s and became popular in the 1800s. It escaped cultivation and can be found in 30 states, spreading in two ways: by seeds and by extending root systems. Each tree can produce over 300,000 seeds that fly with the wind, and once sprouted the plants give off toxins from their roots and falling leaves that prevent native plants from growing by poisoning the soil. Corraling it is tough, because if a tree is cut to the ground, it will quickly send out suckers from its root system that form a dense area of new trees. 

Control includes pulling it up when it is small, making sure to get all the roots; for plants too large to pull, but still relatively small, applying herbicide directly to plant leaves ; and for slightly bigger plants applying herbicide around the plant near the bottom. “Cut stump” and “hack and squirt” methods are also used, but take care to do this with the correct herbicide and to avoid native plants. There are three or four local plants that look similar to Tree of Heaven, including walnut, ash, and sumac. Perhaps the best way to be sure you are attacking the right plant is to use a plant identification app like plantnet or inaturalist. Happily, this is the one plant I have written about so far that I can’t find for sale on the internet!

What you can do:

           1. If you identify the Tree of Heaven in Forest Lakes let the office know. 

2. If you see small plants, pull them up by hand and make sure you get all the roots!

3. Join FLIP, the forest lakes invasives group by contacting John Oliver at johndoliver@comcast.net and come to

some workdays!

Kathy Smyth, FLIP Member

TENNIS NEWS

2026 Summer Junior Tennis Camp Schedule

The Summer Forest Lakes Summer Junior Tennis Camps will run from June 1- July 24 2026.

Camps will be offered for players ages 6-17. Camps are offered in (4) two-week sessions. You can register for single week

sessions based around your summer schedule or multiple sessions. Session dates are:

• June 1-12
• June 15-26
• June 29- July 10
• July 13-24

 Classes will be Monday-Thursday. Fridays will be a rain make up day.

Class definitions: Players may be moved around according to ability.

8:30-9:30 6-9 year olds. Beginner to Advanced Beginner ability

$124 Resident  

9:30-10:30 10-12 year olds. Beginner -Advanced Beginner Level

$124 Resident   

10:30-12:00 13-17 year olds. Intermediate - High School Level

$238 Resident   

REGISTRATION WILL BE HELD SATURDAYS AT THE PRO SHOP PORCH on May 2nd, 9th and 16th from 12-1:00pm.

If you have any questions please contact Don Paitrick at dpaitrick@comcast.net or 540-661-9738.

The Forest Lakes Tennis Staff is looking forward to seeing all of you juniors on the courts this summer!

Best in Tennis to you.

Coach Don

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES

The next regular FLCA Board meeting will be Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:00pm in the Pavilion. Agenda is available on the web 1 week before the meeting.

• Need a babysitter or petsitter list? Call the FLCA office. Want to be on the list? Call the office! WE NEED LAWNMOWERS TOO!!

• For information on Pickleball, Yoga, Libraries, and Parents group click HERE
• Forest Lakes Book Club
• Forest Lakes Board of Directors
• Community Forms and Documents
• FLCA and Sub-association Contacts

FLCA Office: 1828 Pavilion Circle, 434/973.4596. Hours are M-F 9am - 5pm

"April: The best time to experience all four seasons in one day"

— Unknown. (But most likely someone from Virginia.........)

Top Dog of the Month

Meet Violet, Violeta, Diva - you pick!

Violet is a blue heeler who will be 15 years old in July! You probably see Violeta walking every morning (slooooowly - thanks arthritis!) along the Hollymead Dam path. She can't really see, can't really hear, but she can still sniff! She loves all food, except for tomatoes; loves people not dogs.

Violet is the proud Diva of the Cove Pointe neighborhood.

If you see Violet and her owner walking, give her a shout (remember, her hearing is bad). But better yet, just give her a pat. She'll love it.

HBD in July Miss V!