Golden Ponds Waunakee WI | Integrity Homes
🏗️ Newer-Construction Addition to Westbridge
Waunakee, Wisconsin · Neighborhood Guide

Golden Ponds

Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge is a newer-construction, single-family subdivision on the northwest side of Waunakee — north of Kopp Road, between Hellenbrand Road and an active railroad line, directly adjacent to the older Westbridge plat but legally and administratively its own neighborhood, with its own recorded declaration, HOA, and engineered stormwater system.

🏫 Waunakee School District 🏡 Detached Single-Family Only 🌳 Village Park + Stormwater Outlots 🚂 Adjacent to Active Railroad 🏗️ Active New Construction 🚗 ~5 min to Downtown Waunakee
Learn More About Golden Ponds
🏡 About Golden Ponds
About the Neighborhood

A Newer Addition, Built
on Its Own Recorded Rules

Golden Ponds — formally the Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge — is a newer-construction subdivision on the northwest side of the Village of Waunakee, developed by Westbridge, LLC and marketed through Livable Communities by Don Tierney. It sits north of Kopp Road, between Hellenbrand Road and an active railroad line, immediately adjacent to the older Westbridge subdivision built by the same development team. Although the two neighborhoods share street connections and a developer relationship, Golden Ponds has its own recorded declaration, its own homeowners association, and its own development timeline — a distinct subdivision, not a subsection of original Westbridge.

The Village of Waunakee's Plan Commission recommended approval on May 13, 2019, and the Village Board approved the final plat and developer's agreement on May 20, 2019, when the project was described as roughly 62 acres and 83 residential units. The governing Declaration of Covenants, Restrictions, Conditions and Easements was recorded with Dane County on October 4, 2022, as Document #5865853, identifying the final Lots 1–80 plus Outlots 1–8 — a modest refinement between planning and recording, not a contradiction. Livable Communities announced homesites publicly available beginning spring 2023, and the neighborhood was featured in the 2024 Madison Area Parade of Homes, with construction continuing into 2026. Two lot combinations have since been recorded: Nancy Court Lots 24–25 (retired July 17, 2024) and Roger Court Lots 36–37 (Village Board approved February 19, 2025; retired March 4, 2025).

Golden Ponds also carries substantial engineered drainage and environmental infrastructure. Vierbicher's civil-engineering work for the project relocated former agricultural drainage ditches, created wetland-mitigation areas, and built stormwater-treatment ponds intended to reduce nutrient movement toward Lake Mendota — meaning the neighborhood's ponds and drainage corridors are functional infrastructure, not simply decorative water features.

"Golden Ponds shares a developer and several street names with original Westbridge next door — but it has its own recorded declaration, its own HOA, and its own governance. The two should never be treated as one subdivision."

The recorded declaration sets Golden Ponds apart with binding design requirements: detached single-family homes only, minimum floor areas (1,600 sq ft single-story, 2,000 sq ft two-story, 1,600 sq ft main-level for raised ranch/bi-level/tri-level homes), a required attached 2–3 stall garage with detached garages prohibited, a generally required 8/12 front roof pitch (with a Prairie-style exception), required brick or stone veneer in specified foundation applications, and prohibitions on above-ground pools, chain-link/vinyl/plastic fencing, and short-term rentals. Real built examples — including a 3,026-square-foot Bill Weber Jr. Homes listing at 906 Travis Larson Court and a 4,284-square-foot 2024 Parade of Homes entry — confirm homes are being built well above the covenant minimums, with 3-stall attached garages and finished walkout lower levels where the lot allows.

The Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge Homeowners Association, Inc. (WI DFI Entity ID G067822) registered October 3, 2022 and remains, per the most recent available filing (a registered-agent renewal dated November 1, 2025), governed by the developer — Donald C. Tierney's own DeForest, WI address remains the registered agent and principal office, with no filing yet showing a transition to an owner-elected board or the declaration's three-person Design Review Committee.

Know before you go: Golden Ponds' recorded declaration discloses that the addition's eastern boundary adjoins an active railroad line, with potential noise, vibration, exhaust, and night-operations effects, and it also carries a recorded Right-to-Farm disclosure covering nearby agricultural operations. Both are legitimate, recorded disclosures rather than speculation — worth reviewing directly before assuming them away.
What People Value
Why People Choose It

What Draws Buyers to Golden Ponds

Eight things that come up when discussing this neighborhood — evidence-based, not promotional.

Why People Choose It
01

Newer Construction, Binding Design Standards

Recorded minimum sizes, attached-garage requirements, and roofline/material standards produce a more design-consistent streetscape — confirmed by real built examples in the 3,000+ SF range with 3-stall garages.

02

Village-Owned Park Land

Outlots 2, 3, and 6 are transferred to the Village for public park use. The developer markets a shelter, playground, and pickleball court, though completion hasn't been independently confirmed by a Village source.

03

Engineered Stormwater & Wetland Corridor

Outlots 1, 5, and 8 replaced a former agricultural drainage ditch with an engineered stream and wetland-mitigation system, reducing nutrient runoff toward Lake Mendota.

04

Optional Neighborhood Pool Access

Golden Ponds residents may join the separately run Westbridge Neighborhood Pool on a paid membership basis, without that cost folded into HOA dues.

05

Active, Ongoing New-Home Construction

Multiple builders — Bill Weber Jr. Homes, Coogan Builders, Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, and others — remain engaged, including 2024–2026 Parade of Homes participation.

06

Genuine In-Village Proximity

Real routed distances from a Golden Ponds address put grocery, coffee, pharmacy, and downtown Waunakee within about two miles and five minutes.

07

Waunakee School District Assignment

Confirmed via Dane County's own property records — for buyers specifically seeking Waunakee Community School District.

08

Adjacent to an Established Neighborhood

Golden Ponds sits directly next to the older, largely built-out original Westbridge plat — established streets and an existing, golf-course-adjacent neighborhood sit right next door, even though Golden Ponds is governed separately.

🏫 Schools
Schools

Waunakee Community School District

Golden Ponds is confirmed within Waunakee Community School District via Dane County's own parcel tax-overlay records. Elementary assignment is Prairie Elementary.

#7 Wisconsin Overall
#1 WI Athletic Programs
13:1 Student–Teacher Ratio
95.9% Graduation Rate
K–4

Elementary assignment — Prairie Elementary

Golden Ponds feeds Prairie Elementary. Still verify at the specific address with the district before writing an offer, since individual parcels can occasionally sit on a boundary edge.

5–6

Waunakee Intermediate School

6273 Woodland Drive, Waunakee, WI 53597 · (608) 849-2176.

7–8

Waunakee Community Middle School

501 South Street, Waunakee. District-wide assignment — no boundary ambiguity above the elementary level.

9–12

Waunakee Community High School

301 Community Drive, Waunakee. Home of the Warriors — ranked #1 in Wisconsin for athletic programs.

Confirmed: Golden Ponds feeds Prairie Elementary. Still verify at the specific address with the WCSD Registrar at (608) 849-2000 before writing an offer, since individual parcels can occasionally sit on a boundary edge.

🌿 Parks & Amenities
Parks & Amenities

Parks, Stormwater & Pool Access

Golden Ponds' outlots split by function — Village-owned public park land, Village-owned stormwater infrastructure, and association/mail-kiosk areas — plus optional access to a separately run neighborhood pool.

🌿 Parks & Amenities
🛝

Golden Ponds Park — Outlots 2, 3 & 6 Developer-Marketed · Village Confirmation Needed

The developer markets an on-site park with an open-air shelter, playground, and pickleball court on Village-owned park outlots (906 Welcome Blvd, 920 Travis Larson Ct, and 909 Welcome Blvd). No independent Village Parks & Recreation source confirms current completion — a recent Waunakee Tribune roundup of the Village's active 2025 park priorities didn't mention Golden Ponds, which could mean the park was already finished and non-newsworthy, or simply wasn't a funded priority that year.

💧

Stormwater Outlots — Outlots 1, 5 & 8 Verified Infrastructure

Engineered stormwater-management ponds and a meandering stream/wetland-mitigation corridor that replaced a former agricultural drainage ditch, designed by Vierbicher to reduce nutrient loading toward Lake Mendota. This is functioning infrastructure, not decorative or confirmed-recreational green space.

📬

Mail-Kiosk Outlots — Outlots 4 & 7 Field Verification Needed

Association-related outlots tied to neighborhood mail kiosks. Current parking, snow-clearing, and access conditions have not been field-verified.

🏊

Westbridge Neighborhood Pool (Optional, Separate Membership)

Golden Ponds residents are eligible for optional, separately paid membership in the Westbridge Neighborhood Pool (saltwater activity pool, lap pool, zero-depth children's pool), run by a distinct nonprofit — not automatically bundled into HOA dues. Current membership pricing was not found this research pass.

Meadows of Sixmile Creek Golf Course

In the broader area, but not directly adjacent to Golden Ponds the way it is to original Westbridge next door. No evidence of any Golden-Ponds-specific membership, playing privileges, or discount.

🍽️ Nearby Conveniences
Nearby Conveniences

Groceries, Coffee & Everyday Errands

Real routing-verified distances from 905 Travis Larson Court — Waunakee's core in-village conveniences are all a short drive away.

🍽️ Nearby Conveniences
Grocery

Piggly Wiggly / Main Street Market

205 N Holiday Dr. — 1.93 miles, about 4.4 minutes by car. Waunakee's grocery store; there is no Woodman's, Festival Foods, or Hy-Vee inside village limits as of this research pass.

Coffee

M-N-M's Coffeehouse

509 W Main St. — 1.71 miles, about 3.8 minutes by car. Waunakee's established downtown coffeehouse.

Pharmacy

Walgreens

401 W Main St. — 1.78 miles, about 4.2 minutes by car. The only chain pharmacy identified inside the village.

Downtown Waunakee — ~2 miles: Lone Girl Brewing, Rex's Innkeeper, the Wednesday farmers market, and the historic 1896 depot anchor Waunakee's downtown core, about 5.0 minutes / 2.10 miles from Golden Ponds. The Waunakee Public Library is 2.03 miles / 4.9 minutes away.
🚗 Commute & Proximity
Proximity & Commute

Getting There From Here

Approximate drive distances and times from Golden Ponds. Actual time will vary with traffic.

🚗 Commute & Proximity
Destination Distance Drive Time Notes
Downtown Waunakee 2.10 mi 5.0 min 101 E Main St, Waunakee
Grocery — Piggly Wiggly / Main Street Market 1.93 mi 4.4 min 205 N Holiday Dr, Waunakee
Coffee — M-N-M's Coffeehouse 1.71 mi 3.8 min 509 W Main St, Waunakee
Pharmacy — Walgreens 1.78 mi 4.2 min 401 W Main St, Waunakee
Waunakee Public Library 2.03 mi 4.9 min 201 N Madison St, Waunakee
Highway access (WI-113 / CTH Q) 2.99 mi 6.9 min 5805 County Rd Q area
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) 11.51 mi 22.2 min 4000 International Ln, Madison
Downtown Madison / State Capitol 14.71 mi 31.2 min 2 E Main St, Madison

Drive times are estimates — peak hours, weather, construction, and railroad activity may add several minutes.

📊 Market Update
Market Update

Golden Ponds — What Homes Are Selling For

Reporting Period: Trailing 12 Months (2025–2026 closings) Source: MLS export (Waunakee), pulled by John Reuter, August 2026
$799,000–$1,240,000
Sale Price Range
$995,000
Median Sale Price
$1,015,667
Avg Sale Price
6
Homes Sold
1
Active Listings
2
Pending
110 days
Median Days on Market
132 days
Avg Days on Market
98.8%
Median List-to-Sale Ratio
$1,240,000
Highest Sale
$799,000
Lowest Sale
$6,094,000
Total Sales Volume
John's Take

These numbers are from a trailing-12-month MLS pull, but Golden Ponds is still an active build-out — 6 closings is a small sample, and the $799K–$1.24M range and 110-day median reflect an early, thin market more than a settled one. I haven't yet broken this out separately from original Westbridge — Westbridge Trail, Westbridge Court, and Welcome Blvd carry addresses in both neighborhoods, so some crossover is possible in this pull. I also haven't separated vacant-land sales from completed homes. Call me and I'll walk you through what's actually sold, address by address.

— John Reuter · 608-669-4226
🔑 Homes for Sale
Homes for Sale

Currently Available in Golden Ponds

Looking for active listings in Golden Ponds? John monitors new-construction releases across Golden Ponds' active builders — Bill Weber Jr. Homes, Coogan Builders, Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, and others — plus any resale activity, including homes that haven't hit Zillow yet.

💰 What's My Home Worth?
What's My Home Worth?

Your Home's Value Is Not the Neighborhood Average

🏡 What's My Home Worth?

Neighborhood market statistics describe the market as a whole — they cannot tell you what your specific home is worth today. Golden Ponds is still under active buildout, with a genuine mix of completed homes, homes under construction, and vacant lots — lot position, builder, finish level, and how far along the surrounding street was when a home sold can all move value meaningfully.

An accurate home valuation requires a licensed agent to review your specific property against closed comparable sales within Golden Ponds specifically, not original Westbridge next door. If you're a Golden Ponds homeowner considering a sale, John can provide a current market analysis at no cost or obligation.

John Reuter tracks closed sales across Waunakee's subdivisions through the SCWMLS. He can walk you through what has sold, what it sold for, and where your home fits — in a single conversation.

✍️ Insider Notes
Insider Notes

What You Won't Find
on Zillow

Things you only learn from someone who actually works this neighborhood.

Last updated: August 2026

— John Reuter
Broker/Owner, Integrity Homes
Waunakee local

August 2026

I get this call more than you'd think — someone finds "the new Westbridge lots" online and assumes it's the same neighborhood as the pool and golf course next door. Same developer team, same handful of street names carried over, but a completely separate declaration and a completely separate HOA. I pull up the recorded documents before we ever talk numbers, so nobody's surprised at closing about which association they've actually joined.

August 2026

As of the latest filing I can find, it's still Don Tierney's office running the HOA day to day — no resident election yet. For a new owner that mostly means architectural review and management decisions come from the developer's side rather than a neighbor's. Normal for a subdivision this far into build-out, but I'd rather set that expectation up front than have a buyer assume otherwise.

August 2026

The gap between what the marketing materials show and what I can independently confirm from the Village is exactly the kind of thing I check in person before I lean on it with a buyer. Until I've walked the outlots myself and seen the shelter, playground, and pickleball court finished, I tell people it's developer-marketed — not yet Village-confirmed.

August 2026

The buyers I work with usually land on two things: whether they want new construction with warranty coverage over an established yard and mature landscaping, and how they feel about a still-developer-run HOA versus an association with an elected board next door. Price per square foot tends to run close enough between the two that it isn't usually the deciding factor — it really comes down to new versus established.

FAQ
Common Questions

Golden Ponds FAQ

✍️ FAQ
Is Golden Ponds the same as Westbridge?
No. Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge is a newer, legally distinct subdivision built by the same development team immediately adjacent to the older Westbridge plat. It has its own recorded declaration (2022) and its own separate homeowners association — the two should never be treated as one subdivision or one HOA.
Who developed Golden Ponds?
Westbridge, LLC is the developer/declarant of record, with the neighborhood marketed through Livable Communities by Don Tierney — the same team behind original Westbridge, Southbridge, Savannah Village, Kilkenny Farms, and Kilkenny Farms West elsewhere in Waunakee, all separate, non-adjacent developments.
When was Golden Ponds approved and recorded?
The Village Board approved the final plat and developer's agreement on May 20, 2019, when the project was described as roughly 83 units on 62 acres. The governing declaration was recorded with Dane County on October 4, 2022 (Document #5865853), identifying the final Lots 1–80 plus 8 outlots — a refinement between planning and recording, not a conflict.
Does Golden Ponds have its own HOA, and is it developer- or resident-controlled?
Yes — the Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge Homeowners Association, Inc., a separate legal entity from the original Westbridge Neighborhood Association. As of the most recent available Wisconsin DFI filing (a registered-agent renewal dated November 1, 2025), it remains developer-controlled, with no filing yet showing a transition to an owner-elected board or the declaration's Design Review Committee.
How much are Golden Ponds' HOA dues?
Not fully confirmed for 2026. The declaration set a maximum annual assessment of $250 per lot at the time of recording in 2022, subject to increases tied to actual association costs — that's a 2022 recording-time ceiling, not a confirmed current figure. Confirm current dues directly with the HOA or developer's office before budgeting for a purchase.
What design restrictions come with a Golden Ponds home?
The recorded declaration requires detached single-family homes only, minimum floor areas (1,600 SF single-story, 2,000 SF two-story, 1,600 SF main-level for raised ranch/bi-level/tri-level), an attached 2–3 stall garage (detached garages prohibited), generally an 8/12 front roof pitch with a Prairie-style exception, brick/stone veneer in specified applications, and prohibits above-ground pools and chain-link/vinyl/plastic fencing. Confirm the full covenant text directly before finalizing plans.
Are short-term rentals allowed in Golden Ponds?
No — the recorded declaration expressly prohibits short-term or transient rentals of homes, rooms, or bedrooms, subject to a limited family-related exception.
Does Golden Ponds have a park?
Village-owned park outlots (Outlots 2, 3, and 6) are confirmed transferred to the Village. The developer markets a shelter, playground, and pickleball court on these outlots. Request more information for current completion status.
Is there pool access at Golden Ponds?
Yes, on an optional, separately paid membership basis in the Westbridge Neighborhood Pool, run by a distinct nonprofit — not automatically bundled into HOA dues. Current membership pricing was not found this research pass.
What school district serves Golden Ponds, and which elementary school?
Waunakee Community School District, confirmed via Dane County's own parcel tax-overlay records. Elementary assignment is Prairie Elementary. Still verify at the specific address with the WCSD Registrar, (608) 849-2000, before writing an offer, since individual parcels can occasionally sit on a boundary edge.
Is there a railroad near Golden Ponds?
Yes — Golden Ponds' eastern boundary adjoins an active railroad line, and the recorded declaration includes a disclosure of potential noise, vibration, exhaust, and night-operations effects, alongside a separate Right-to-Farm disclosure for nearby agricultural land.
Is Golden Ponds still building new homes, and what are homes selling for?
Yes — multiple builders (Bill Weber Jr. Homes, Coogan Builders, Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, and others) remain active as of 2025–2026, including recent Parade of Homes participation. Over the trailing 12 months, 6 homes sold in Golden Ponds between $799,000 and $1,240,000, with a median sale price of $995,000, per an MLS export pulled by John Reuter in August 2026.
80 Recorded Residential Lots
2022 Declaration Recorded
~5 min to Downtown Waunakee
3 Village Park Outlots

What is Golden Ponds in Waunakee, Wisconsin?

Golden Ponds is a newer-construction, single-family neighborhood on Waunakee, Wisconsin's northwest side, in Dane County. Developed by Westbridge, LLC and marketed through Livable Communities by Don Tierney, with a 2022 recorded declaration, it features Golden Ponds Park's shelter and pickleball court, engineered stormwater ponds, and optional Westbridge Neighborhood Pool membership. Homes sold between $799,000 and $1,240,000 over the past 12 months, with a median of $995,000, per an MLS export — a small sample (6 closings) since the neighborhood is still building out. It falls within Waunakee Community School District, about 2.1 miles and five minutes from downtown Waunakee.

PHOTO PLACEHOLDER
Golden Ponds streetscape — Travis Larson Court or Westbridge Trail
(needs shoot — not yet in Media Vault)
PHOTO PLACEHOLDER
Golden Ponds Park outlots (shelter/playground) or stormwater corridor
(needs shoot — not yet in Media Vault)
About the Neighborhood

A Newer Addition, Built
on Its Own Recorded Rules

Golden Ponds — formally the Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge — is a newer-construction subdivision on the northwest side of the Village of Waunakee, developed by Westbridge, LLC and marketed through Livable Communities by Don Tierney. It sits north of Kopp Road, between Hellenbrand Road and an active railroad line, immediately adjacent to the older Westbridge subdivision built by the same development team. Although the two neighborhoods share street connections and a developer relationship, Golden Ponds has its own recorded declaration, its own homeowners association, and its own development timeline — a distinct subdivision, not a subsection of original Westbridge.

The Village of Waunakee's Plan Commission recommended approval on May 13, 2019, and the Village Board approved the final plat and developer's agreement on May 20, 2019, when the project was described as roughly 62 acres and 83 residential units. The governing Declaration of Covenants, Restrictions, Conditions and Easements was recorded with Dane County on October 4, 2022, as Document #5865853, identifying the final Lots 1–80 plus Outlots 1–8 — a modest refinement between planning and recording, not a contradiction. Livable Communities announced homesites publicly available beginning spring 2023, and the neighborhood was featured in the 2024 Madison Area Parade of Homes, with construction continuing into 2026. Two lot combinations have since been recorded: Nancy Court Lots 24–25 (retired July 17, 2024) and Roger Court Lots 36–37 (Village Board approved February 19, 2025; retired March 4, 2025).

Golden Ponds also carries substantial engineered drainage and environmental infrastructure. Vierbicher's civil-engineering work for the project relocated former agricultural drainage ditches, created wetland-mitigation areas, and built stormwater-treatment ponds intended to reduce nutrient movement toward Lake Mendota — meaning the neighborhood's ponds and drainage corridors are functional infrastructure, not simply decorative water features.

"Golden Ponds shares a developer and several street names with original Westbridge next door — but it has its own recorded declaration, its own HOA, and its own governance. The two should never be treated as one subdivision."

The recorded declaration sets Golden Ponds apart with binding design requirements: detached single-family homes only, minimum floor areas (1,600 sq ft single-story, 2,000 sq ft two-story, 1,600 sq ft main-level for raised ranch/bi-level/tri-level homes), a required attached 2–3 stall garage with detached garages prohibited, a generally required 8/12 front roof pitch (with a Prairie-style exception), required brick or stone veneer in specified foundation applications, and prohibitions on above-ground pools, chain-link/vinyl/plastic fencing, and short-term rentals. Real built examples — including a 3,026-square-foot Bill Weber Jr. Homes listing at 906 Travis Larson Court and a 4,284-square-foot 2024 Parade of Homes entry — confirm homes are being built well above the covenant minimums, with 3-stall attached garages and finished walkout lower levels where the lot allows.

The Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge Homeowners Association, Inc. (WI DFI Entity ID G067822) registered October 3, 2022 and remains, per the most recent available filing (a registered-agent renewal dated November 1, 2025), governed by the developer — Donald C. Tierney's own DeForest, WI address remains the registered agent and principal office, with no filing yet showing a transition to an owner-elected board or the declaration's three-person Design Review Committee.

Know before you go: Golden Ponds' recorded declaration discloses that the addition's eastern boundary adjoins an active railroad line, with potential noise, vibration, exhaust, and night-operations effects, and it also carries a recorded Right-to-Farm disclosure covering nearby agricultural operations. Both are legitimate, recorded disclosures rather than speculation — worth reviewing directly before assuming them away.
Why People Choose It

What Draws Buyers to Golden Ponds

Eight things that come up when discussing this neighborhood — evidence-based, not promotional.

Why People Choose It
01

Newer Construction, Binding Design Standards

Recorded minimum sizes, attached-garage requirements, and roofline/material standards produce a more design-consistent streetscape — confirmed by real built examples in the 3,000+ SF range with 3-stall garages.

02

Village-Owned Park Land

Outlots 2, 3, and 6 are transferred to the Village for public park use. The developer markets a shelter, playground, and pickleball court, though completion hasn't been independently confirmed by a Village source.

03

Engineered Stormwater & Wetland Corridor

Outlots 1, 5, and 8 replaced a former agricultural drainage ditch with an engineered stream and wetland-mitigation system, reducing nutrient runoff toward Lake Mendota.

04

Optional Neighborhood Pool Access

Golden Ponds residents may join the separately run Westbridge Neighborhood Pool on a paid membership basis, without that cost folded into HOA dues.

05

Active, Ongoing New-Home Construction

Multiple builders — Bill Weber Jr. Homes, Coogan Builders, Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, and others — remain engaged, including 2024–2026 Parade of Homes participation.

06

Genuine In-Village Proximity

Real routed distances from a Golden Ponds address put grocery, coffee, pharmacy, and downtown Waunakee within about two miles and five minutes.

07

Waunakee School District Assignment

Confirmed via Dane County's own property records — for buyers specifically seeking Waunakee Community School District.

08

Adjacent to an Established Neighborhood

Golden Ponds sits directly next to the older, largely built-out original Westbridge plat — established streets and an existing, golf-course-adjacent neighborhood sit right next door, even though Golden Ponds is governed separately.

Schools

Waunakee Community School District

Golden Ponds is confirmed within Waunakee Community School District via Dane County's own parcel tax-overlay records. Elementary assignment is Prairie Elementary.

#7 Wisconsin Overall
#1 WI Athletic Programs
13:1 Student–Teacher Ratio
95.9% Graduation Rate
K–4

Elementary assignment — Prairie Elementary

Golden Ponds feeds Prairie Elementary. Still verify at the specific address with the district before writing an offer, since individual parcels can occasionally sit on a boundary edge.

5–6

Waunakee Intermediate School

6273 Woodland Drive, Waunakee, WI 53597 · (608) 849-2176.

7–8

Waunakee Community Middle School

501 South Street, Waunakee. District-wide assignment — no boundary ambiguity above the elementary level.

9–12

Waunakee Community High School

301 Community Drive, Waunakee. Home of the Warriors — ranked #1 in Wisconsin for athletic programs.

Confirmed: Golden Ponds feeds Prairie Elementary. Still verify at the specific address with the WCSD Registrar at (608) 849-2000 before writing an offer, since individual parcels can occasionally sit on a boundary edge.

Parks & Amenities

Parks, Stormwater & Pool Access

Golden Ponds' outlots split by function — Village-owned public park land, Village-owned stormwater infrastructure, and association/mail-kiosk areas — plus optional access to a separately run neighborhood pool.

🌿 Parks & Amenities
🛝

Golden Ponds Park — Outlots 2, 3 & 6 Developer-Marketed · Village Confirmation Needed

The developer markets an on-site park with an open-air shelter, playground, and pickleball court on Village-owned park outlots (906 Welcome Blvd, 920 Travis Larson Ct, and 909 Welcome Blvd). No independent Village Parks & Recreation source confirms current completion — a recent Waunakee Tribune roundup of the Village's active 2025 park priorities didn't mention Golden Ponds, which could mean the park was already finished and non-newsworthy, or simply wasn't a funded priority that year.

💧

Stormwater Outlots — Outlots 1, 5 & 8 Verified Infrastructure

Engineered stormwater-management ponds and a meandering stream/wetland-mitigation corridor that replaced a former agricultural drainage ditch, designed by Vierbicher to reduce nutrient loading toward Lake Mendota. This is functioning infrastructure, not decorative or confirmed-recreational green space.

📬

Mail-Kiosk Outlots — Outlots 4 & 7 Field Verification Needed

Association-related outlots tied to neighborhood mail kiosks. Current parking, snow-clearing, and access conditions have not been field-verified.

🏊

Westbridge Neighborhood Pool (Optional, Separate Membership)

Golden Ponds residents are eligible for optional, separately paid membership in the Westbridge Neighborhood Pool (saltwater activity pool, lap pool, zero-depth children's pool), run by a distinct nonprofit — not automatically bundled into HOA dues. Current membership pricing was not found this research pass.

Meadows of Sixmile Creek Golf Course

In the broader area, but not directly adjacent to Golden Ponds the way it is to original Westbridge next door. No evidence of any Golden-Ponds-specific membership, playing privileges, or discount.

Nearby Conveniences

Groceries, Coffee & Everyday Errands

Real routing-verified distances from 905 Travis Larson Court — Waunakee's core in-village conveniences are all a short drive away.

🍽️ Nearby Conveniences
Grocery

Piggly Wiggly / Main Street Market

205 N Holiday Dr. — 1.93 miles, about 4.4 minutes by car. Waunakee's grocery store; there is no Woodman's, Festival Foods, or Hy-Vee inside village limits as of this research pass.

Coffee

M-N-M's Coffeehouse

509 W Main St. — 1.71 miles, about 3.8 minutes by car. Waunakee's established downtown coffeehouse.

Pharmacy

Walgreens

401 W Main St. — 1.78 miles, about 4.2 minutes by car. The only chain pharmacy identified inside the village.

Downtown Waunakee — ~2 miles: Lone Girl Brewing, Rex's Innkeeper, the Wednesday farmers market, and the historic 1896 depot anchor Waunakee's downtown core, about 5.0 minutes / 2.10 miles from Golden Ponds. The Waunakee Public Library is 2.03 miles / 4.9 minutes away.
Proximity & Commute

Getting There From Here

Approximate drive distances and times from Golden Ponds. Actual time will vary with traffic.

🚗 Commute & Proximity
Destination Distance Drive Time Notes
Downtown Waunakee 2.10 mi 5.0 min 101 E Main St, Waunakee
Grocery — Piggly Wiggly / Main Street Market 1.93 mi 4.4 min 205 N Holiday Dr, Waunakee
Coffee — M-N-M's Coffeehouse 1.71 mi 3.8 min 509 W Main St, Waunakee
Pharmacy — Walgreens 1.78 mi 4.2 min 401 W Main St, Waunakee
Waunakee Public Library 2.03 mi 4.9 min 201 N Madison St, Waunakee
Highway access (WI-113 / CTH Q) 2.99 mi 6.9 min 5805 County Rd Q area
Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) 11.51 mi 22.2 min 4000 International Ln, Madison
Downtown Madison / State Capitol 14.71 mi 31.2 min 2 E Main St, Madison

Drive times are estimates — peak hours, weather, construction, and railroad activity may add several minutes.

Dog-Friendly Space

Off-Leash Options Near Golden Ponds

No dedicated on-site or HOA-amenity dog park was found for Golden Ponds. The closest Waunakee-area off-leash options are listed below.

🐕 Dog-Friendly Space
🐕
On-Site — Not Confirmed

No Documented On-Site Dog Park

Golden Ponds' recorded declaration includes pet and breed-specific restrictions as part of its general covenant package, but that is a restriction on keeping animals, not a dog-park amenity. No dedicated off-leash dog park was found in HOA or developer materials — confirm directly with the HOA.

🐕
~2.2 mi / 5 min from Golden Ponds

Ripp Park Pet Exercise Area

951 West Main Street, Waunakee, WI 53597 — Waunakee's own dedicated off-leash area, 4.84 acres on the north end of Ripp Park. A Dane County Dog Park Permit is required.

🐕
~7.5 mi / 12 min from Golden Ponds

Yahara Heights County Park Dog Area

28 WI-113, Waunakee, WI 53597 — a 20-acre off-leash area with trails and water access, permit required.

Market Update

Golden Ponds — What Homes Are Selling For

Reporting Period: Trailing 12 Months (2025–2026 closings) Source: MLS export (Waunakee), pulled by John Reuter, August 2026
$799,000–$1,240,000
Sale Price Range
$995,000
Median Sale Price
$1,015,667
Avg Sale Price
6
Homes Sold
1
Active Listings
2
Pending
110 days
Median Days on Market
132 days
Avg Days on Market
98.8%
Median List-to-Sale Ratio
$1,240,000
Highest Sale
$799,000
Lowest Sale
$6,094,000
Total Sales Volume
John's Take

These numbers are from a trailing-12-month MLS pull, but Golden Ponds is still an active build-out — 6 closings is a small sample, and the $799K–$1.24M range and 110-day median reflect an early, thin market more than a settled one. I haven't yet broken this out separately from original Westbridge — Westbridge Trail, Westbridge Court, and Welcome Blvd carry addresses in both neighborhoods, so some crossover is possible in this pull. I also haven't separated vacant-land sales from completed homes. Call me and I'll walk you through what's actually sold, address by address.

— John Reuter · 608-669-4226
What's My Home Worth?

Your Home's Value Is Not the Neighborhood Average

🏡 What's My Home Worth?

Neighborhood market statistics describe the market as a whole — they cannot tell you what your specific home is worth today. Golden Ponds is still under active buildout, with a genuine mix of completed homes, homes under construction, and vacant lots — lot position, builder, finish level, and how far along the surrounding street was when a home sold can all move value meaningfully.

An accurate home valuation requires a licensed agent to review your specific property against closed comparable sales within Golden Ponds specifically, not original Westbridge next door. If you're a Golden Ponds homeowner considering a sale, John can provide a current market analysis at no cost or obligation.

John Reuter tracks closed sales across Waunakee's subdivisions through the SCWMLS. He can walk you through what has sold, what it sold for, and where your home fits — in a single conversation.

Homes for Sale

Currently Available in Golden Ponds

Looking for active listings in Golden Ponds? John monitors new-construction releases across Golden Ponds' active builders — Bill Weber Jr. Homes, Coogan Builders, Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, and others — plus any resale activity, including homes that haven't hit Zillow yet.

Insider Notes

What You Won't Find
on Zillow

Things you only learn from someone who actually works this neighborhood.

Last updated: August 2026

— John Reuter
Broker/Owner, Integrity Homes
Waunakee local

August 2026

I get this call more than you'd think — someone finds "the new Westbridge lots" online and assumes it's the same neighborhood as the pool and golf course next door. Same developer team, same handful of street names carried over, but a completely separate declaration and a completely separate HOA. I pull up the recorded documents before we ever talk numbers, so nobody's surprised at closing about which association they've actually joined.

August 2026

As of the latest filing I can find, it's still Don Tierney's office running the HOA day to day — no resident election yet. For a new owner that mostly means architectural review and management decisions come from the developer's side rather than a neighbor's. Normal for a subdivision this far into build-out, but I'd rather set that expectation up front than have a buyer assume otherwise.

August 2026

The gap between what the marketing materials show and what I can independently confirm from the Village is exactly the kind of thing I check in person before I lean on it with a buyer. Until I've walked the outlots myself and seen the shelter, playground, and pickleball court finished, I tell people it's developer-marketed — not yet Village-confirmed.

August 2026

The buyers I work with usually land on two things: whether they want new construction with warranty coverage over an established yard and mature landscaping, and how they feel about a still-developer-run HOA versus an association with an elected board next door. Price per square foot tends to run close enough between the two that it isn't usually the deciding factor — it really comes down to new versus established.

Common Questions

Golden Ponds FAQ

✍️ FAQ
Is Golden Ponds the same as Westbridge?
No. Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge is a newer, legally distinct subdivision built by the same development team immediately adjacent to the older Westbridge plat. It has its own recorded declaration (2022) and its own separate homeowners association — the two should never be treated as one subdivision or one HOA.
Who developed Golden Ponds?
Westbridge, LLC is the developer/declarant of record, with the neighborhood marketed through Livable Communities by Don Tierney — the same team behind original Westbridge, Southbridge, Savannah Village, Kilkenny Farms, and Kilkenny Farms West elsewhere in Waunakee, all separate, non-adjacent developments.
When was Golden Ponds approved and recorded?
The Village Board approved the final plat and developer's agreement on May 20, 2019, when the project was described as roughly 83 units on 62 acres. The governing declaration was recorded with Dane County on October 4, 2022 (Document #5865853), identifying the final Lots 1–80 plus 8 outlots — a refinement between planning and recording, not a conflict.
Does Golden Ponds have its own HOA, and is it developer- or resident-controlled?
Yes — the Golden Ponds Addition to Westbridge Homeowners Association, Inc., a separate legal entity from the original Westbridge Neighborhood Association. As of the most recent available Wisconsin DFI filing (a registered-agent renewal dated November 1, 2025), it remains developer-controlled, with no filing yet showing a transition to an owner-elected board or the declaration's Design Review Committee.
How much are Golden Ponds' HOA dues?
Not fully confirmed for 2026. The declaration set a maximum annual assessment of $250 per lot at the time of recording in 2022, subject to increases tied to actual association costs — that's a 2022 recording-time ceiling, not a confirmed current figure. Confirm current dues directly with the HOA or developer's office before budgeting for a purchase.
What design restrictions come with a Golden Ponds home?
The recorded declaration requires detached single-family homes only, minimum floor areas (1,600 SF single-story, 2,000 SF two-story, 1,600 SF main-level for raised ranch/bi-level/tri-level), an attached 2–3 stall garage (detached garages prohibited), generally an 8/12 front roof pitch with a Prairie-style exception, brick/stone veneer in specified applications, and prohibits above-ground pools and chain-link/vinyl/plastic fencing. Confirm the full covenant text directly before finalizing plans.
Are short-term rentals allowed in Golden Ponds?
No — the recorded declaration expressly prohibits short-term or transient rentals of homes, rooms, or bedrooms, subject to a limited family-related exception.
Does Golden Ponds have a park?
Village-owned park outlots (Outlots 2, 3, and 6) are confirmed transferred to the Village. The developer markets a shelter, playground, and pickleball court on these outlots. Request more information for current completion status.
Is there pool access at Golden Ponds?
Yes, on an optional, separately paid membership basis in the Westbridge Neighborhood Pool, run by a distinct nonprofit — not automatically bundled into HOA dues. Current membership pricing was not found this research pass.
What school district serves Golden Ponds, and which elementary school?
Waunakee Community School District, confirmed via Dane County's own parcel tax-overlay records. Elementary assignment is Prairie Elementary. Still verify at the specific address with the WCSD Registrar, (608) 849-2000, before writing an offer, since individual parcels can occasionally sit on a boundary edge.
Is there a railroad near Golden Ponds?
Yes — Golden Ponds' eastern boundary adjoins an active railroad line, and the recorded declaration includes a disclosure of potential noise, vibration, exhaust, and night-operations effects, alongside a separate Right-to-Farm disclosure for nearby agricultural land.
Is Golden Ponds still building new homes, and what are homes selling for?
Yes — multiple builders (Bill Weber Jr. Homes, Coogan Builders, Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee, and others) remain active as of 2025–2026, including recent Parade of Homes participation. Over the trailing 12 months, 6 homes sold in Golden Ponds between $799,000 and $1,240,000, with a median sale price of $995,000, per an MLS export pulled by John Reuter in August 2026.

Compares to nearby Waunakee neighborhoods, or want current market data?

Interested in Golden Ponds?

John Reuter is a Waunakee local, Top 5% Realtor, and retired Air Force veteran. Real advice on Golden Ponds' recorded restrictions, HOA governance, and current builder inventory — no pressure.

🇺🇸 Reward Our Heroes™ · IRS-Approved 501(c)(3)

Veterans & Heroes —
There's More on the Table

Integrity Homes' Reward Our Heroes program serves veterans, active military, first responders, teachers, and healthcare workers with real estate savings averaging $4,200 per transaction. John Reuter is a retired Air Force veteran and Military Relocation Professional — Golden Ponds is about 22 minutes from Truax Field and the 115th Fighter Wing.

Your Waunakee Expert

John Reuter — Broker/Owner, Integrity Homes

John Reuter is a Waunakee-based Broker/Owner. He's a retired U.S. Air Force veteran (115th Fighter Wing, Security Forces), a former volunteer firefighter with the Sun Prairie Fire Department, and a Top 5% Realtor nationally for seven consecutive years. He holds the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) designation and is the founder of the Reward Our Heroes Foundation (EIN 39-3358820), an IRS-approved 501(c)(3). He works with builders and buyers across Waunakee's Livable Communities neighborhoods, including both Golden Ponds and original Westbridge next door, and knows the local HOA landscape firsthand.

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