Get Involved
Pocket Gardens
There are just 2 more openings to help maintain the association’s pocket gardens. Volunteers would be responsible for basic garden maintenance such as pruning, weeding and mulching their respective beds as needed. The Association will cover the costs of any materials associated with the maintenance.
Arlington Esplanade - Sierah & Larry Barnhart
Crestwood & Sunset - Christine Baron
Tacoma & Sherwood - Thom Maher
Beaver & Westover - Mark Everetts
Indiana & Beaver - Mark Everetts
Pillars at Indiana & Rudisill - Gretchen Maggart
South Wayne & Pettit - Sanctuary Native Landscapes
Westover & Old Mill - OPEN
Tacoma & Pettit - OPEN
Dumpster Days
As an extension of the Board of Directors the Beautification Committee aims to enhance and protect the beauty of our community as well as provide homeowners opportunities to do the same. Hosting dumpster days allow us to remove large amounts of bulk rubbish from the neighborhood at one time as opposed to waiting for curbside bulk pickup. Its important that residents adhere to the rules set forth by the City of Fort Wayne when using the dumpster so that we can continue to provide this valuable service.
Coordinator, Erika Stuller
MULTIPLE OPENINGS for Dumpster Watch - Because of recent unsavory behavior with our dumpster day programming, we need volunteers to help manage what goes into the dumpster and monitoring it once it reaches capacity. Volunteers work in 2 hour shifts.
Tree Programming
The City of Fort Wayne offers mature street trees to residents for $50. If you are interested in getting a tree placed in your park strip, Historic Southwood Park will cover this cost for you. These trees are planted in late Fall and should be watered until the ground freezes to help increase their chance survival. With this program we have added over 200 mature trees in the neighborhood.
Additionally, the association purchases 1-2 year old tree seedlings from Indiana Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division which are dispersed to residents annually in early Spring. With this program we have introduced over 300 seedlings to the area.
Street Tree Inventory & Ordering - Sierah Barnhart & Christine Baron
Seedling Program - Sierah Barnhart
MULTIPLE OPENINGS for Street Tree Pruning - We are looking for one or more residents to to help conduct basic maintenance on our street trees using these guidelines.
Pedestrian Safety
One of the primary concerns of our residents and board of directors is pedestrian safety. Our association has purchased our own solar powered radar sign. This sign is on a schedule to appear and track speeds through out the neighborhood in collaboration with the City of Fort Wayne’s Street Department.
2025 Sidewalk Audit - Sierah Barnhart
Radar Speed Sign - Steve McCord
OPENING for Crosswalk Painting Coordinator: The individual who volunteers for this role would coordinate and/or execute the painting of crosswalks using the City of Fort Wayne’s Painted Pavement program.
Garage Sale Signage
MULTIPLE OPENINGS for There are multiple openings for managing garage sale signage. The volunteers would be responsible for putting out garage sales signs the Monday before the day of the sale and collecting them the day following the sale. Sales happen bi-annually in June & September.
Click here to volunteer to help place, remove and store garage sale signage!
DIRT DAY
Every Spring the association offers free high quality soil to residents.
Truck Coordinators - Erika Stuller & Christine Baron
THREE OPENINGS for Dirt Pile Monitors - The dirt piles need occasional sweeping until all of the dirt has bee claimed. Volunteers are also responsible for putting out and collecting orange traffic cones at the end of the programming.
Block Parties
The neighborhood hosts a summer and fall block party that is open to all members.
Summer Block Party Coordinator & Planner - Nadine Rager
Fall Block Party Coordinators & Planners - Sierah Barnhart & Kaylan Buteyn
Southwood Social
Flamingo Fridays are being replaced with the more flexible Southwood Social. Southwood Socials can take place in your backyard like a traditional Flamingo Friday or you can do something like the following (on any day of the week):
Coffee & Cake at the Friendly Fox
Drinks or Apps at Chance Bar, Bravas, 07 Pub, Packard Taphouse, etc.
A Walk/Ride Around Foster Park
Foster Park Pavilion Rental BBQ with Board Games
Yoga Class with Prana
Craft Night at Wunderkammer
The possibilities are endless but the goal is the same, get to know your neighbors better and spend quality time with one another. We look forward to hearing what you come up with! If you’d like to host a social gathering please reach out to us and we will be sure to help you promote it.
Coordinator - Nadine Rager
Newsletter
The board of directors aims to provide residents with at least two newsletters per year. Delivered straight to your door, this newsletter provides a summary of our most pressing issues, any upcoming events and community news you need to know.
Writer & Editor - Steve McCord
Stamping & Folding - Board of Directors
Welcome Wagon
The board of directors uses the welcome wagon program to introduce new homeowners to: the neighborhood, area establishments and the charm of our historic architecture.
Tracking move-ins and delivering welcome packages - John & Nora Figueroa
Neighborhood Flag
in 2019 the board of directors released the official neighborhood flag of Historic Southwood Park. Flag volunteers manage inventory, coordinate payments and make deliveries.
Flag Payment Coordination & Delivery - Charlotte Tompkins
Social Accounts & Email Subscription
The board of directors maintains this website, a Facebook Page, and an Instagram account to make sure we stay connected with our residents in every way we can.
Steve McCord
Erika Stuller
Sierah Barnhart
AWARD HOMES
One of our neighborhood’s greatest assets is our housing stock. Honoring these homes and the owners maintaining them will always be one of our favorite activities. Take some time to browse through our past award homes and you may get a glimpse at what your home used to look like! If you have a nomination suggestion, send us that too!
Erika Stuller