ponds are more old school and laid back.

id use a pond but i don't live near one. i like walking out my backdoor and skating instead of driving somewhere to do so. allows me MANY more opportunities to skate not having to convince myself its a good idea to drive somewhere where there is no net and probably no maintenance done to the ice. But if it were in my backyard you bet it'd be maintained!

Hard to find a cooler sound in the neighborhood than pucks ripping off the boards, of course, that is unless you don't have boards! ;)