Golden Ponds

Fort Pierce, Florida

Golden Ponds is a family owned and operated community located in Fort Pierce, FL.

FMO District President Jim Timm and FMO Director at Large Russ Watson call this

community home. HOA President Kim Krause came here in 2015. She cites the sense

of community as her primary attraction. “Everybody chips in, people help each other

and give a hand to anyone who needs it.” Kim’s goal for the HOA is to enable

everybody to enjoy life in the community and make it safe for all. There are 12 mem-

bers on the Board of Directors. Board and membership meetings are held monthly in

season. Summers here are quiet so board meetings are only held if needed. Member-

ship meetings easily meet the 50 household quorum requirement set in the bylaws so

business is conducted at every meeting. The HOA re-incorporated last summer after

realizing they lacked the original 2/3 signature document from the first HOA incorpora-

tion. With the help of their attorney they got it done, refiled their right to purchase doc-

uments, and updated their bylaws. The HOA’s big fundraiser is an annual Bizarre held

each November. Residents donate items all

year long which are stored in sheds provided

for this purpose by the park owner. Recently

the park held a fundraiser for the local Hos-

pice organization presenting a check for over

$10,000. A very popular HOA event is “Coffee

Plus,” shown here. Residents gather at the

clubhouse on the first Saturday each month to

share conversation over coffee and dough-

nuts.

The North & South clubhouses are in con-

stant use by residents. There is a library,

craft room with ceramic kiln, a full kitchen

in one and smaller serving area with

fridge & microwave in the other, card

room, billiards, indoor darts, bingo, and

much more are available. Tennis courts,

pickle ball, bocce, shuffleboard and other

games are played outside. The park even

has a full size dedicated softball field

where inter-park games are played in

season.

Park Manager Yvette Peppard came here in 2012. She and her husband decided to

make the move to Florida and Golden Ponds, where Yvette’s mom was living. It was

to be the jumping off point. They bought a house, thinking they would stay while look-

ing for something permanent. After visiting other parks and looking at other choices

they decided Golden Ponds was what they had been looking for all along. I asked

Yvette what she liked most: “It feels safe and comfortable. It’s very pretty” she re-

plied. “Everybody watches out for each other” was another thought she expressed.

We both agreed: “It feels like home.”

The park was built in 1985/1986. It features a pool, hot tub, and huge outdoor picnic

area complete with gas grills and gas fire pit. All this overlooks the large pond be-

hind the clubhouse. There are 394 homes in the park at this time with a few vacant

lots still available. Most houses are 1986—1988. There are some from the 90s and

a few newer than that. Houses here sell very quickly and turnover is low. It is a 55+

community. We are out in the country but not far from the shore, shopping, and city

life. Fresh squeezed orange juice can be purchased at a packing plant and grove

stand a block away. District FMO meetings are sometimes held here, so stop in next

time we host one and say Hi.

Russ Watson