The Lake Forest Association (LFA) of Chapel Hill, NC owns and manages:

• Eastwood Lake
• Eastwood Park at the end of South Lakeshore Drive
• Eastwood lake dam, adjacent to the park
• The shoreline property bordering the lake, as defined by county deeds
• The land and forebay at the southwest end of the lake 

The LFA and its land are solely for the enjoyment of its members. The LFA is a non-profit corporation, funded by its members through dues and assessments and run by volunteers in the neighborhood.

Lake Forest Association Information Booklet

The Lake Forest Association Information Booklet has a lot of facts about Lake Forest and color photos. It’s a large file, but includes a lot of useful information. It will open in a new window by clicking here(large file).

Who we are
The members of the LFA are defined by those specific properties which were part of the original tracts developed as Lake Forest Estates.  This membership is irrevocable, and tied to the property.  But participation in the LFA and access to the park and lake are dependent on payment of dues (see Dues below).

We also have an Associate Membership program which provides limited access to the lake and park to a limited number of homeowners near the park.

What we do
The membership of the LFA is involved in many activities.

• We run a staffed summer recreation program at the park.
• Various social functions are enjoyed each year.
• Our Newcomer’s committee attempts to welcome every new family moving into the neighborhood (if we missed you, please let us know).
• The lake’s water is tested several times a year to make sure it is safe for swimming.
• Our fishery and wildlife must be managed.
• The dam requires occasional inspections and maintenance.
• Monitor sedimentation rates from Booker Creek and Cedar Forks Creek, which feed into the lake. 
• Several mailings must be produced and mailed each year.
• At least one general membership meeting is held each fall.

Lake management is a big job. Upstream development has made it necessary to drain and dredge the lake several times over the years. The last dredging effort in 2001 cost over one million dollars. The lake is in better shape than ever, but our work is not done.

Dues
Because of the costs of owning and managing a lake, we ask each member to pay annual dues. Less than half of this money goes toward the annual operating costs of the organization. The rest is saved for future lake management expenses, such as dredging and dam maintenance. These costs are inevitable and expensive, so raising this money is imperative. The dues are not mandatory, but required for participation in the LFA and the use of the park and lake. Unpaid balances accrue against the property, so if a home has an unpaid balance when it is sold, the new owners will owe the full unpaid balance if they wish to use the lake. Please contact us if you have any questions about the status of a particular property.

Communications
Communications is vital to having a healthy association and neighborhood. A lot of information is available on this website. If you are an LFA member, you should sign up for the LFAnews, an occassional email newsletter on topics of interest. And you should also consider subscribing to the LFA Backyard Fence, a Yahoo! Group and email list that allows LFA members to email each other. You can ask a question, or inform your neighbors about something of interest. To find out more about these two services on the Communications page.

Who to contact
Since the association is totally run by volunteers, we try to divide the tasks among many members. The Activities & People page will give you a list of contacts for each area of responsibility. If you are unsure who to contact, you can email or call any member of the Board of Directors.

Volunteers needed
We are always looking for people to help us in our programs. We’ll try to match your interests to the association’s needs. Getting involved is a great way to meet new people, learn more about what is going on in Lake Forest, and contribute to the welfare of the neighborhood.