Living in Windward

Windward is an Alpharetta community of 44 neighborhoods on about 3,000 acres, wrapped around Lake Windward, a private lake of roughly 200 acres that reaches about 40 feet at its deepest point. Only electric motors are allowed, up to 10 horsepower, so a summer evening on the water sounds more like a pontoon than a speedboat. It's the rare suburb where "lake life" and "short drive to the office" can share a sentence.

Where is Windward, and how is the commute?

Windward is in the City of Alpharetta in north Fulton County. Its homeowners association, the Windward Community Services Association, works with Access Management Group as its property manager.

Commute times depend on where you're headed and when, so run your own route in a map app at your real departure hour. Try it once on a weekday and once on a Saturday.

For the bigger picture, see Living in Alpharetta and our Alpharetta vs. Milton. Just across the line off Windward Parkway, Avensong in Milton is a swim and tennis neighborhood built between 1995 and 1997.

What are the homes like in Windward?

All 44 Windward neighborhoods are single-family homes, according to the association. Some sit on the lake, others are a short drive or walk from the community parks. The association publishes design standards both community-wide and by neighborhood, and several neighborhoods have their own sub-associations with additional dues and rules.

That two-layer setup is the first thing to sort out when you look at a Windward home: which neighborhood is it in, and does that neighborhood have its own association on top of the master one?

What amenities does Windward have?

Lake Windward. The lake is private, for Windward homeowners and their guests. Owners can boat (electric motors only, maximum 10 HP), sail, kayak, paddleboard, scull and fish, mostly for largemouth bass. No watercraft can be longer than 24 feet. The association manages the fishery and dredges the lake roughly every two to three years.

Parks. Windward maintains three pocket parks, two with lake access, plus a gated boat launch with a picnic pavilion and a sports park with a playground, covered pavilions, a baseball field, a basketball court and large and small dog runs.

Optional private clubs. The association lists two privately owned clubs as optional amenities, separate from HOA dues:

• The Racket Social Club at Windward Lake, at 2001 Lake Windward Drive, with 18 tennis courts, four padel courts, six pickleball courts, pools and a marina. It was acquired in 2025 by Racquet 360.
• Golf Club of Georgia, a private club with two Arthur Hills courses.

There's also a resident-only electric pontoon rental service on the lake during the season, for anyone who wants the boat without the boat payment.

What parks and things to do are near Windward?

Big Creek Greenway. Alpharetta's section of the Big Creek Greenway runs 12 miles, on a 12-foot-wide paved path through woods along Big Creek. It's open year-round to walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters.

Wills Park. The city's 120-acre Wills Park has a 60-acre equestrian show facility, 10 baseball fields, a pool, three playgrounds, six tennis courts and an 18-hole disc golf course. Yes, an equestrian center inside a city park. Alpharetta keeps surprising people.

What should buyers know about the Windward HOA?

The Windward Community Services Association (WCSA) manages common areas, covenants and the lake. Key points from its governance page:

• The 2026 WCSA annual assessment is $975, which doesn't include optional amenities like the private clubs.
• Several neighborhoods have additional sub-association dues.
• Invoices go out at the end of the calendar year, and fees are due February 1.
• No special assessments were being considered at the time we checked.

What should you check before buying in Windward?

• Master plus sub-association. Ask whether the neighborhood has its own association and what those dues cover, on top of the $975 WCSA assessment for 2026.
• Lake access. Lakefront is one thing, lake access is another. Every owner can use the lake, the pocket parks and the gated boat launch, so a home off the water still gets you on it.
• Boat plans. If you own a boat, check it against the rules first: electric motor up to 10 HP, nothing longer than 24 feet.
• Design standards. Windward publishes both community-wide and neighborhood-specific standards. Read the ones for your neighborhood before planning a fence or addition.
• Club memberships. If tennis, padel, swimming or golf is part of the plan, call the private clubs for current membership terms.

And one free tip: drive the community on a summer evening. Walking the docks and paths (and hearing how quiet the electric boats are) is the fastest way to understand why the lake is called the heart of the community.

Which schools serve Windward?

Windward is in the Fulton County Schools system. Confirm the exact address with the district's "Find Your School" tool, since a community this large can span more than one zone.

Windward FAQs

Is Lake Windward private?

Yes. Access is limited to Windward homeowners and their guests.

Can you use gas boats on Lake Windward?

No. Only electric motors up to 10 horsepower are allowed, and no watercraft can be longer than 24 feet.

How much is the Windward HOA fee?

The 2026 WCSA assessment is $975 a year, not counting optional private clubs or any sub-association dues.

Is the Windward Lake Club included in HOA dues?

No. The Racket Social Club at Windward Lake and Golf Club of Georgia are privately owned and optional.

How many neighborhoods are in Windward?

Forty-four, all single-family homes, according to the association.

Own a home in Windward? Get a starting point with our home valuation, or call (470) 990-4414.

Sources

• Windward Community (WCSA) home page: 44 neighborhoods of single-family homes, 3,000 acres, 200-acre lake. https://www.windwardhomesga.com/ (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• Windward, The Lake: private, electric motors max 10 HP, 24 ft max, fishing, ~200 acres, ~40 ft deep, dredging every 2-3 years. https://www.windwardhomesga.com/lake (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• Windward, Private Parks: 3 pocket parks (2 with lake access), gated boat launch, sports park. https://www.windwardhomesga.com/parks (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• Windward, Governance and Management: WCSA, 2026 assessment $975, sub-association dues, due Feb 1, Access Management Group. https://www.windwardhomesga.com/governance-and-management (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• Windward, Optional Amenities: Racket Social Club at Windward Lake (2001 Lake Windward Dr), Golf Club of Georgia (two Arthur Hills courses), pontoon rentals. https://www.windwardhomesga.com/optional-amenities (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• Racket Social Club at Windward Lake: 18 tennis, 4 padel, 6 pickleball, pools, marina; acquired 2025 by Racquet 360. https://www.windwardlakeclub.com/ (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• City of Alpharetta (Connected Alpharetta), Trails and Parks: 12 miles of Big Creek Greenway, 12 ft wide; Wills Park 120 acres and amenities. https://connectedalpharetta.com/trails-and-parks/ (checked Oct 23, 2026)
• Fulton County Schools, Find Your School Using Your Home Address. https://www.fultonschools.org/our-district/schools-admin-locations/find-your-school-using-your-home-address (checked Oct 23, 2026)