Ohio HOA denies pond memorial plaque

Residents of a Maineville, Ohio, neighborhood must continue placing temporary flowers and toys at a pond bench after the local homeowners association rejected a permanent memorial. The denial affects the immediate area off Hammerwood Court, where a makeshift tribute has formed following a recent drowning.

Kamronbek Abdakimov, a 10-year-old boy with autism who was non-verbal, died in the neighborhood pond in October. He was scheduled to turn 11 in early November.

Neighbors asked the HOA board for permission to attach a small plaque with Kamronbek’s name to an existing bench by the water. The board voted to reject the proposal. A community manager explained the decision in an email to residents, stating that the board needed to treat memorial requests consistently across the community. The email noted that residents had experienced other tragic losses and that the board was concerned about setting a precedent for individual memorials in shared areas.

Merrick Reynolds, a neighbor, expressed frustration with the board’s response. He described the decision as a "complicated no" when it seemed like it should have been a simple yes. Reynolds said the incident shook the neighborhood and the wider community.

Reynolds noted that residents rallied around the family despite existing language and cultural differences. He stated that many neighbors performed extraordinary acts of support, reaching out to the family to help them through the loss. He emphasized that the community lives together and wants to support one another.

Another resident described the board’s stance as unfeeling and callous. The neighbor compared the family’s loss to their own 11-year-old daughter, saying they could not imagine what the family is going through.

The HOA board has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the specific decision. Without approval for a permanent plaque, the temporary items at the pond continue to accumulate as neighbors visit the site.