The PEHOA Board works closely with the city of Kentwood to advocate for and improve the safety of our neighborhood. Examples of this are promoting town hall meetings with the police, assisting residents with outdoor yard / street lighting, advocating for park improvements such as additional walkways and gates by the park entrances, etc.
Police Reporting:
We encourage all neighbors to report any suspicious behavior, no matter how “small” using the police non-emergency number (616) 698-6580 this link: Online Police Reporting
Yard Lamps / Lighting:
Providing adequate outdoor lighting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent crime in the neighborhood. This is especially important in the months between October and March when we lose a significant amount of daylight hours. The northern half of our neighborhood, from Wilmont Drive to 52nd street, has no street lighting, as per the original design / plans between the developers and the city back in the 1970s and 1980s when this neighborhood was “born”. This means that the primary responsibility for street lighting falls to the homeowners in this area. In an effort to encourage homeowners to provide adequate lighting, the PEHOA board will offer support for yard lamppost repairs and replacement, potentially including financial support on a case by case basis. Please contact the board at pehoakentwood@gmail.com if you have questions or want any help with your lamp post.
Park Safety:
Pinewood park is a wonderful blessing to our neighborhood, and it is beautifully maintained and improved by the Parks and Rec department. It is known as the “hidden gem” of Kentwood because it is nestled between homes in the middle of our neighborhood, and provides so many excellent spaces for people to relax and enjoy sports, the splashpad, and other gatherings at the pavilions and playground areas. Many neighbors within and without the PEHOA boundaries walk or bike to the park on a frequent basis. While this is a great blessing, it can also be dangerous when people disrespect the park rules and / or the traffic laws in or around the park. Past examples include:
- Occasional motorbikes speeding through the park near children
- Vehicles driving through the park, over the grass using private homeowner driveways
- Loud and potentially violent gatherings, typically after dark
- Graffiti and other
Neighbors are encouraged to call the non emergency reporting number above if they notice anything suspicious. The PEHOA board will continue working with both Police and Parks and Rec to improve the safety measures, including advocating for automatic gates at the entrances that close at dark. If you have ideas for additional safety measures, please contact the PEHOA board at pehoakentwood@gmail.com