In this age of the Internet and mass media its is easier to go through your life without ever getting to know your neighbors. I feel like I'm seeing this happen here in the neighborhood of Harford Park.

What things do you feel the Harford Park Community Association ought to be doing that would make you more likely to be a part of it? Please leave sign up to the web site and leave your comments below or send an e-mail to rob@vees.net.

The Harford Park Community Association has stayed relevant and solvent for 68 years while coordinating community social events, sports teams, and maintaining a community meeting space in the building at 2522 Linwood Road. In the last few years, however, it seems harder and harder to convince new residents of the neighborhood to join and participate.

For communities with covenants and homeowner associations that exist solely for the enforcement of rules, their purpose is clear. In a community like Harford Park where city and county ordinances and zoning are the only restrictions on property use, the community association appears to serve a more social and advisory role.

Besides hosting a meeting space and coordinating social event fundraisers, trips, and other community building activities, HPCA acts as an advocate to members and neighbors to Baltimore County and City and facilitates such county-sponsored services as Dumpster Day.