Our Mission- keep things looking presentable, all while keep costs down.

Let’s Refresh the Face of Hazeltine Wood — Together

Dear Neighbors,

As many of you know, Hazeltine Wood has always been a special place to call home—mature trees, a quiet setting, and neighbors who genuinely care. But perhaps the first thing many people notice isn’t any of that—it’s our entrance monument. It’s the front door to our neighborhood, and right now… it’s showing its age.

A quick bit of history: Hazeltine Wood was developed in the early 1990s by Builders Development, then a division of Lyman Lumber. Our original monument sign featured raised Masonite letters on a sandblasted wood base—eye-catching at the time, but unfortunately not built to last. By 2017, those letters were warping and popping out like the old Slinky toys.

Because we don’t have a formal homeowners association and the City of Chaska doesn’t maintain the monument, a few of us organized a small fundraising effort back then. For around $30 per household, we were able to replace the deteriorating letters with beautiful custom core Cor-Ten steel letters and oak tree logo, plasma cut by Judd Nelson, an artist in Wayzata. The plan was that one day, those elements would be reused on a new, permanent base.

Since then, neighbors like Darlene Richardson have taken it upon themselves to maintain the landscaping, planting, weeding, even decorating for the holidays. We owe them thanks for keeping things going as long as they have. A couple of us have tried to keep up on nursing the sign along and painting it every so often.

But the time has come for a bigger refresh. The landscaping has become overgrown and tired. With the help of the City, we were able to remove two large dead trees (saving us a good chunk in removal costs), and now we’re looking at the next step: a more comprehensive update to the landscaping around the monument.

To get a handle on costs, I reached out to Cory Whitmer of Mustard Seed Landscaping, who provided a professional design and a quote of $6,900 for the full installation. Darlene is working on a revised design and budget-friendly option as well. Either way, we need your help.

I’ve already raised $1,500 toward the project, and now we’re asking each household to consider contributing what you can. A suggested amount might be $50–$100, but any amount helps.

A well-maintained entrance isn’t just cosmetic—it preserves our home values and sends a message of pride in our community.

If you'd like to contribute, please reach out to me directly at [your contact info] or drop me a VENMO. I’ll keep everyone updated on progress and final designs.

Thank you for being part of what makes Hazeltine Wood such a great place to live.