Gardens of Pleasant Plains in Toms River, NJ: A Guide to This Adult Community

Gardens of Pleasant Plains is a 55+ community of single-family homes and duplexes in the Pleasant Plains section of Toms River Township, Ocean County. It was built between 1968 and 1974, which makes it one of the older adult communities in the township, and its homes tend to be smaller than in the newer communities around it.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. Here is what the association's website and the published sources say about the homes, the clubhouse and the area around it.

Where Gardens of Pleasant Plains Is

The clubhouse is at 41 Columbine Circle in Toms River, ZIP code 08755. Pleasant Plains is a section of Toms River Township, which is the municipality for property taxes and township services. The community is not gated.

The Homes

The sources give three different home counts. The association's website says 456 homes. Ocean County's planning list gives 457, though the layout of that list makes its number approximate. 55places gives 437. I use the association's figure, and the small differences may come from how duplexes are counted.

The community has both single-family homes and duplexes. 55places names three single-family models, each with two bedrooms and a one-car garage: the Sandpiper, about 912 square feet with one and a half baths; the Wren, about 963 square feet with one bath; and the Cardinal, about 1,660 square feet with one bath. 55places also lists a duplex collection but no duplex floor plans.

Every home is a resale, and with homes now more than 50 years old, updates make a big difference. Some homes will have new kitchens, baths, windows and systems, and others will be close to original, so the inspection and the seller's disclosure deserve a careful read.

Clubhouse and Amenities

55places lists a clubhouse with a billiards room and a multipurpose room, shuffleboard, and lakes or ponds on the grounds. 55places also notes that the community has no pool, which is worth knowing if you are comparing it with communities that do. The association's website says the association maintains the common areas, and both the association and 55places note that homeowners may fence their yards.

Fees and Rules

Association fees at Gardens of Pleasant Plains vary by section and home type and change every year, so I don't print a number here that would go out of date. Ask me for the current fees and I will get you the figure, and what it covers, before you make an offer.

The association's website describes Gardens of Pleasant Plains as a 55+ community. I did not read its governing documents, so the exact age rule and any exceptions should come from the association during your attorney review. Ask, too, which services the fee covers and which are left to the owner, since a community with a smaller fee often leaves more of the upkeep to each homeowner.

Shopping, Medical Care and Getting Around

• Hospital: Community Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health) in Toms River is about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
• Groceries: Stop & Shop at 2360 Lakewood Road in Toms River, listed in the chain's current store directory, is about 3.3 miles away in a straight line. Closer stores appear on the map, but I could not confirm they are open.
• Bus service: Ocean County's Ocean Ride runs fixed routes, including OC 3 (Toms River, Brick and Lakewood), OC 10 along Route 37 and a Toms River North Loop shopper route on Wednesdays, though the county does not say whether any route stops at the community. Reserve-A-Ride offers door-to-door trips for county residents 60 and older, and for people with disabilities.

Before You Buy: Questions to Ask Any Age-Restricted Community

I walk every buyer through the same short list when we look at a community like Gardens of Pleasant Plains. This is general guidance, not legal advice; your attorney will review the association documents with you.

• The age rule. Ask for the exact wording, including how it treats a younger spouse, a live-in caregiver and long-staying guests.
• The fee and the budget. Ask what the fee covers, how large the reserve fund is, and whether a special assessment is planned.
• Costs at closing. Ask whether buyers pay a capital contribution, transfer fee or resale certificate fee.
• Everyday rules. Ask about pets, renting your home out, exterior changes, and parking for a second car, a boat or an RV.

Frequently Asked Questions

What town is Gardens of Pleasant Plains in?

Toms River Township, in the Pleasant Plains section.

How many homes are there?

The association says 456. Ocean County lists about 457, and 55places lists 437.

Are the homes single-family or duplexes?

Both.

Is there a pool?

No. 55places lists the community as having no pool. The clubhouse has a billiards room and a multipurpose room.

Can I put up a fence?

The association and 55places say yard fences are allowed. Ask for the written rules on height and style before you build one.

Thinking About Gardens of Pleasant Plains? Let's Talk

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, working with buyers and sellers in Toms River and across Monmouth and Ocean Counties. To see homes for sale in Gardens of Pleasant Plains, compare it with other adult communities nearby, or learn what your current home could sell for, call or text me at (732) 598-2672 or send me a message. Photos and home details are on the Gardens of Pleasant Plains community page.