It is with a heavy heart and deep disappointment that I share this update: Harvest Hills South will not be participating in OKC Neighbors Nite Out this year.

My wife and I have lived in this neighborhood for more than 13 years, and Neighbors Nite Out has always been one of the highlights of our year. It has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with one another, build friendships, and celebrate the sense of community that makes a neighborhood feel like home.

We have made every effort to reevaluate the budget from every angle. However, due to extremely low membership participation and several promised payments that were never received, we simply cannot afford to sponsor the event this year. As a board, we have always been careful and responsible with neighborhood funds—saving where we could, negotiating whenever possible, and even personally covering certain expenses so that essential costs could be paid.

It is disheartening that in a neighborhood of roughly 400 homes, so few contribute to keeping it active and running. We have created easy fundraising opportunities, such as monthly restaurant nights and pizza nights, where participation requires nothing more than choosing where to eat. For example, Johnnie’s has served as a fundraiser for eight years and, while some may be tired of it, it has consistently provided valuable support for HHS.

We also reached out to landlords, and while a few responded generously, the total amount was still not enough. In fact, we received more support from landlords than from many of the neighbors who live here. I had hoped, perhaps naively, that everyone loved this neighborhood as much as we do. That love is what inspired us to get involved in the first place.

This decision is discouraging not only for the neighbors who do support and pay their membership dues, but also because it affects our relationships with Station 34, the police, the bounce house vendor, the video trailer, and Neighborhood Alliance, all of whom have supported and praised HHS events over the years.

It is also disappointing that, although HHSNA sponsored this neighborhood event, only about one-third of the attendees were actual paid members. Still, we continued to sponsor it in hopes that more neighbors would enjoy it and recognize the value of supporting the neighborhood.

Over the years, we have worked hard to improve property values, clean up the neighborhood, and earn our designation with street topper signs—signs that now need replacing after eight years of sun exposure. Unfortunately, the cost of replacing them, which exceeds $1,000, is also out of reach.

Membership dues are only $30 per year—just over 8 cents a day. It is heartbreaking that we must cancel this event, and without greater community support, it will limit the services and activities we are able to fund.

We sincerely hope that, in time, more neighbors—both homeowners and renters—will choose to invest in the place we all call home. Membership dues are collected each January, and we truly hope that by next year, more of our community will step forward to support HHS and help preserve the progress we have made together.

It was always a great time. Maybe next year…….