Lake Clarke Gardens

Pros

• Residents enjoy serene grounds and abundant wildlife, including herons, egrets, turtles, and ducks.
• The community offers amenities such as a swimming pool, recreation room, and clubhouse.
• The complex is described as very nice and quiet, with remodeled units.
• The office staff are wonderful and helpful.
• The pools and the clubhouse are very nice.
• The community is beautifully kept and peaceful.
• The location is convenient with pleasant balcony views and close proximity to the beach.
• The community provides lots of social activities and is regarded as friendly and well run.

Cons

• The management is described as the worst property management in Florida.
• Maintenance costs have been raised to unaffordable levels for retirees.
• The maintenance team is said to fail at duties and takes forever to respond to tickets.
• Maintenance requests are routinely ignored, and complainants are told to leave or police will be called.
• Jennifer Cox is portrayed as an incompetent manager whose actions invite police reports documenting failure.
• Maintenance workers allegedly spray water onto windows from the catwalks, creating messes and slip hazards.
• The condo association is accused of deliberately creating slippery surfaces, inviting personal injury issues.
• The approval process is described as prejudiced, with minorities experiencing much longer delays.
• Landscaping is criticized as appalling and poorly maintained since the arrival of the current manager.
• Weekend noise from fireworks and loud bass music is described as absolutely miserable.
• The surrounding area is described as downscale with beggars and homeless individuals, negatively affecting the environment.
• One pool is frequently broken, detracting from the community experience.

Review

Lake Clarke Gardens presents itself as a serene, 55-plus senior community that draws you in with its quiet grounds and abundant wildlife. Many residents paint a picture of a place where nature is an everyday show: great blue herons standing statuesque on fountains, flocks of egrets roaming the lawns in search of breakfast after a shower, turtles basking near the water features, and Egyptian geese and their ducklings wandering the grounds. The overall mood many describe is calm and peaceful, a place where the animals alone can be reason enough to stay. The community is frequently praised for its cozy, comfortable atmosphere and as a backdrop to a lifestyle that feels removed from hustle and bustle. The amenities - such as a swimming pool, a recreation room, and other common facilities - are often mentioned as welcome bonuses that complement the quiet, scenic setting.

Several reviewers highlight the positive, lived-in feel of the place. Phrases like "great place to live," "remodeled," and "nice people live here" recur, underscoring a sense that the community has improved over time and that residents value their everyday experiences. Some residents describe Lake Clarke Gardens as a cozy, beautiful, and quiet place where one can settle in and feel at home. Others emphasize the convenience and security of a well-run 55-plus environment, calling out features like well-kept common areas, helpful office staff, and a strong sense of community that makes visiting family or staying long-term a pleasant experience. There are comments about a friendly, professional staff who are often quick to assist and solutions-oriented when problems arise.

However, opinions split sharply when it comes to management and maintenance. A number of reviewers place significant blame on the property management company, with one particularly earnest critique labeling Seacrest as the worst property management in Florida. The sense from these accounts is that rising maintenance costs have outpaced what retirees can comfortably absorb, and that maintenance responses can be slow or inconsistent. Some residents describe maintenance tickets being ignored or delayed, and communication with the office as unreliable or unresponsive. In several posts, the management experience centers around a specific manager - Jennifer Cox - who is depicted in strikingly negative terms by multiple writers. Allegations range from incompetence and poor management decisions to more troubling claims about hostile or obstructive behavior toward residents, including claims of police involvement and frequent police reports tied to building disputes. Some residents feel that the maintenance team's work is not only slow but sometimes counterproductive, such as water being sprayed across windows during cleaning tasks and creating additional cleaning or safety issues.

Noise and neighborhood quality also emerge as significant themes, but with mixed verdicts. A number of reviewers recount that the surrounding area has a tendency toward noise and disorder, describing weekends as challenging due to fireworks, loud music with booming bass, and activity from nearby rentals that intrudes on what should be a quiet, contemplative space. One reviewer characterizes the overall environment as "downscale" and notes persistent street-level disturbances, beggars, and homeless individuals in nearby lots. Others contrast those impressions with experiences of quiet, well-maintained common areas and a sense that the interior amenities can still provide a peaceful retreat if you're able to avoid or tolerate the surrounding neighborhood dynamics.

On the facility side, opinions about the physical upkeep range from commendations to critiques. Pools and the clubhouse are consistently noted as attractive or well-kept, and many residents mention a good sense of security and a pleasant place to relax. Yet there are drawbacks cited as well: landscaping is described by some as appalling, uneven, and poorly maintained since changes in management; catwalks can be slippery because of water from maintenance tasks; and there is a recurring sense that some areas of the property could use more consistent attention. The overall impression for many is a community with strong potential and beloved by residents, but with visible and persistent maintenance and landscaping issues that can affect daily living.

A segment of the reviews centers on diversity, board operations, and fairness in the application process. One long, provocative post accuses the community of prejudice, claiming that white residents have an easier time getting approved than minorities, with references to delays for applicants with non-white names and insinuations about inconsistent handling by a less-than-fully professional office staff. This particular view paints a stark picture of discrimination and alleges that the process has been slowed to discourage broader minority participation. While these claims are presented passionately and with strong language, they reflect a subset of resident sentiment that highlights how human dynamics and perceived fairness can color an otherwise physical description of a community. Some residents, by contrast, emphasize that the staff and management can be helpful and caring, pointing to improvements and a generally positive, welcoming attitude among office personnel and new leadership.

Taken together, the collection of reviews reveals a community with a compelling blend of beauty, comfort, and social vitality on one hand, and management friction, cost pressures, and neighborhood tensions on the other. For some residents, Lake Clarke Gardens is a near-ideal home: quiet, scenic, and well-equipped with amenities, where they can enjoy a sense of belonging and a network of like-minded neighbors. For others, the same place feels like a work in progress - where rising fees, uneven upkeep, and contentious management dynamics intrude on daily life and cast a long shadow over otherwise favorable features. The overall portrait is nuanced: a sanctuary of nature and community for many, but with notable caveats that potential movers or long-term residents would want to explore - particularly the management approach, maintenance responsiveness, and the broader neighborhood context - before committing to stay long-term.

This area of Lake Worth, Florida, offers a variety of amenities within close proximity, making it convenient for senior living. There are several pharmacies nearby such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy for easy access to medications. Additionally, there are medical facilities like Midtown Imaging and JFK Medical Center in the vicinity. For dining options, Enzo's Cafe And Bakery and Harry's Banana Farm are just a short drive away. Places of worship like the First Congregational Church of Lake Worth provide spiritual support. Transportation is also easily accessible with Palm Beach International Airport nearby. Parks like Howard Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, while theaters like AMC CityPlace 20 provide entertainment options. In summary, this area provides a convenient and diverse range of services for seniors looking to settle in Lake Worth.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Midtown Imaging (1 miles)
• Pbc Dermatology (1.5 miles)
• Lighthouse For the Blind of the Palm Beaches (1.8 miles)
• South Florida Gastroenterology (2.3 miles)
• JFK Medical Center (2.5 miles)
• Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches (2.6 miles)
• Florida Allergy & Asthma Assoc (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Enzo's Cafe And Bakery (1.3 miles)
• Palm Springs Pizza (1.3 miles)
• Harry's Banana Farm (1.6 miles)
• Lake Worth Playhouse (2 miles)
• Havana Restaurant (2.1 miles)
• Tacos Al Carbon (2.2 miles)
• Tarbouch Hookah Cafe (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Congregational Church of Lake Worth (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Common Grounds WPB (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Subculture Coffee (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Jfk Transport (2.4 miles)
• Jfk Cath Lab (2.5 miles)

Transportation

• Atlantic Aviation (3.3 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (3.7 miles)
• Concourse C (3.8 miles)
• Meeter / Greeter Waiting Area (3.8 miles)
• Baggage Claim (3.8 miles)
• Avis Rent A Car (3.8 miles)
• Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) (3.8 miles)

Parks

• Howard Park (4.9 miles)
• Ezel H. Community Park (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC CityPlace 20 (5.4 miles)