Village Grande at Bear Creek

Pros

• The community provides a peaceful retirement lifestyle with convenient shopping facilities.
• It is a beautiful development featuring a community center, putting green, community garden, a koi pond and several ponds, plus a fitness trail for enjoyable walks.
• The community is home to great people.
• New residents find the community very welcoming.
• The subdivision is neat and well-kept, surrounded by trees.
• The clubhouse is well-equipped with a wide range of recreation and activities, supported by a large community center with indoor and outdoor pools, a gymnasium, and many clubrooms.
• The pool and other amenities contribute to a pleasant living environment.
• The community is a wonderful place to retire with beautiful grounds and wonderful people.
• It is a nicely kept community with ample recreational opportunities.

Cons

• The clubhouse has been closed for much of the pandemic, leaving residents disappointed while they continue to pay monthly fees for inaccessible facilities.
• The security gate at the main entrance has been broken for months, and a burglary attempt occurred while it was down.
• The board's remedy to keep exterior lights on to compensate for the gate failure increases electricity costs for seniors on fixed incomes.
• Covid-related closures have shut down most amenities, with only a few hours of access each afternoon.
• For daytime workers, there are no alternative hours to use the gym or other facilities, yet monthly fees persist.
• Snow and ice removal is inadequate, leaving sidewalks and driveways iced for more than 24 hours after storms.

Review

The community presents itself as a tranquil, retirement-friendly haven that promises peace and quiet, with the added perk of convenient shopping nearby. Visitors and residents alike describe it as a place where living well is the norm: a setting designed for relaxed days, safe streets, and easy access to everyday needs. The overall vibe is one of calm and contentment, with many residents noting that the surroundings themselves contribute to a sense of well-being and slower, more enjoyable days. It's the kind of environment where you can enjoy your routine, run a few errands close to home, and feel a steady sense of comfort in your surroundings.

What makes the place stand out is its robust array of on-site amenities, which form the backbone of daily life for many residents. The development is described as beautiful and well-kept, with more than 500 homes distributed along about six miles of internal roads. The centerpiece is a large community center that houses indoor and outdoor pools, a sizable gym, a gymnasium, and numerous clubrooms - spaces that encourage socializing, fitness, and hobby-based clubs. Beyond the building, there are scenic features that residents love: a koi pond and several other ponds, a community garden, a putting green, and a well-designed fitness trail that makes walking or light exercise an inviting everyday activity. The combination of tidy landscaping, abundant recreational spaces, and easy walking routes contributes to a sense of place that many residents describe as inviting and enjoyable.

The social fabric in the community also receives frequent praise. People describe others as friendly, welcoming, and supportive, which helps create a warm, neighborly atmosphere. A resident notes that their mother recently moved in and found a very welcoming environment, highlighting how quickly newcomers can feel at home. There's a sense that the community isn't just about facilities but about the people who use them: "great people," "wonderful people," and plenty of opportunities to mingle. Activities and casual gatherings are part of daily life, with mentions of daytime access to the clubhouse via a key fob for residents who work during the day, and occasional evening activities like Bridge games. The presence of a club-friendly culture - where families can visit the clubhouse for relaxation or a dip in the pool - also comes through as a strong, positive thread. For many, the place feels alive with options for recreation, socializing, and shared experiences.

Yet the reviews also paint a nuanced picture of access and governance, especially as it relates to pandemic-related disruptions and policy decisions. The clubhouse, a focal point of community life, has been closed for extended periods during the pandemic, and residents express disappointment about paying monthly fees for access that isn't consistently available. On the upside, some residents still report daytime access via their club house key fob, and there are occasional activities after hours, but the inconsistency has left people with mixed feelings about what they are paying for and when they can actually use the facilities. The tension between maintaining amenities and adapting to health precautions is evident, with some enjoying the flexibility of daytime access and others feeling limited by the current operating hours and closures. This evolving situation contributes to a broader sense of how well the development balances its financial commitments with residents' everyday needs.

Safety and maintenance concerns enter the conversation with a sharper edge. The security gate at the main entrance has reportedly been broken for months, undermining a fundamental sense of security for residents. The period of downtime coincides with a burglary attempt, which has understandably heightened worry among homeowners and prompted discussions about the effectiveness of existing safeguards. In response, some guidance from the board has been to keep lights on to deter further incidents, a measure that, in turn, raises concerns about electricity costs for seniors on fixed incomes who are already managing monthly expenses. Add to that the weather-related issues: snow and ice removal are described as inadequate, leaving sidewalks and driveways potentially hazardous for more than a day after a snowfall. These safety and maintenance realities temper the otherwise positive impressions and remind residents that a well-maintained feel requires ongoing attention and investment.

When taken together, the community emerges as a large, well-distributed, and aesthetically pleasing retirement development that offers substantial opportunities for recreation, social connection, and comfort. The combination of a scenic environment, a comprehensive set of amenities, and a friendly resident culture contributes to a strong overall appeal. At the same time, there are clear areas where expectations and experiences diverge: accessibility and consistency of facilities during and after the pandemic, public safety and gate maintenance, and practical concerns around cost and responsiveness to safety issues. For potential residents or current homeowners, the picture is one of considerable upside - beautiful grounds, abundant activities, and a welcoming community - but with important considerations about governance, facility access, and ongoing maintenance that warrant careful attention. In short, it is a place that many people love for the life it offers, while also presenting challenges that come with managing a large retirement community in changing times.

Places of Worship

• Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey (1 miles)
• St Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church (4.1 miles)
• Princeton University Chapel (6.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Grover's Mill Coffee Company (1.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.8 miles)

Transportation

• Avis Rent A Car (2.1 miles)
• NJT - Princeton Junction Station (4 miles)
• Bus Stop Twin Rivers Loop (5.4 miles)
• Hamilton Station (6.3 miles)
• Trenton Transit Center (9.5 miles)

Physicians

• Windsor Dermatology (2.1 miles)
• Certified Dermatology (4.2 miles)
• Altus Medical Care (5.2 miles)
• CHOP Specialty Care Center (5.3 miles)
• Rwj Occupational Health (5.8 miles)
• Campus Eye Group (6 miles)
• Daniel Kessell Dermatology (6 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Wendy's (2.4 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.5 miles)
• McDonald's (4.9 miles)
• Gil & Bert's Ice Cream (5 miles)
• Applebee's (5.4 miles)
• Taco Bell (5.4 miles)

Parks

• Mercer County Park (3 miles)
• Veteran's Park Hamilton (6.4 miles)
• Half-Acre Park (6.7 miles)
• Sharp's Lane Crestwood Park (7.2 miles)
• Rocky Top Dog Park (8.9 miles)
• Thompson Park (9.4 miles)

Hospitals

• University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (5.4 miles)