A once-vacant lot in the Bishop Manor community in Santa Ana, Calif., has been transformed into a vibrant playground thanks in part to the CAI Orange County Regional Chapter. A celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this year capped off the months-long renovation project.
Before the project, the lot primarily housed an aging, unsafe play structure and a dirt field used by local stray cats. “This is a community that has always had heart, but for too long our kids didn’t have a safe place to play,” says Bishop Manor President Robert Alcaras. “Now they do, and it’s beautiful.”
The revitalization project, a team effort between local leaders, volunteers, and community members, was developed as a pilot initiative by the chapter to demonstrate how homeowners associations and their professional partners can give back through coordinated volunteerism. The project received support from the HOA Community Reinvestment Fund of Orange County, Charitable Ventures, and more than a dozen other organizations. Donated services ranged from ground prep and equipment installation to mural design, insurance consulting, and safety inspections.
Now, the playground stands as a centerpiece for the 164-home Southern California community — complete with a new play structure, mural, and turf for children to safely play and have soccer practice.
“What happened here at Bishop Manor is more than a playground installation, it’s a blueprint for how industry professionals, residents, and nonprofit partners can come together to create real change,” says Mike Perlof, CAI-OC president-elect. “We’re proud to be part of this neighborhood’s story and excited to see this model replicated in communities across Orange County.”
>>Celebrate your community and your profession. Join CAI’s Love Where You Live and Love Where You Work campaigns by sharing your stories that highlight the people and moments that make community association life and management meaningful. Photos and stories may be featured on CAI social media and content channels.
Lead photo caption: Love Where You Play: Members of the CAI Orange County Regional Chapter and local leaders gather in Santa Ana, Calif., to celebrate the opening of the Bishop Manor playground they helped transform.
Bishop Manor Swings
A once-vacant lot in the Bishop Manor community in Santa Ana, Calif., has been transformed into a vibrant playground.
Bishop Manor Scores
The new Bishop Manor playground stands as a centerpiece for the 164-home Southern California community — complete with a new play structure, mural, and turf field for children to play.
CAI-OC Leaders Dedication
CAI Orange County Regional Chapter Past President Robert Spiller (left), Executive Director Denise Kennedy, and President-elect Mike Perlof dedicate the new Bishop Manor playground in Santa Ana, Calif.
