A House, a Creek and a Greenway

A missing link will finally fall into place Sept. 24, when House Creek greenway trail opens to the public.
This news  is especially exciting for me, a born-again bicycle rider and enthusiastic fan of Raleigh's Secret Garden, better known as the city's greenway system.
The House Creek trail runs from the I-440 pedestrian bridge near the N.C. Museum of Art across Blue Ridge Road and on toward Crabtree Valley Mall.
I've eagerly awaited news about this project for the better part of nine years, when I first moved to Raleigh with my family and saw the greenway plans running near my house.
As a newcomer shopping for houses, I had an eye toward walking trails and sidewalks, but we ultimately made our decision based on school zone, affordability, sufficient space to accommodate 11- and 13-year-old boys, and proximity to my husband's workplace in downtown Raleigh.
As a fan of good urban planning, I was not thrilled about living at the end of a cul-de-sac. But privacy of the small backyard deck lured me outside often enough, and from the early days, I noticed a gentle noise like gurgling water.
Was there a stream or brook nearby?  I never saw a bridge, ditch or drainage pipe close to the house. But I could still from time to time pick out those faint yet distinctive watery sounds.
When I first learned that the greenway section near our house was under construction, I was eager to explore the site. That's when I found House creek, which runs across the "bottom" between our property and the beltline.
I am now a big enough fan of our west Raleigh neighborhood and recognize my own cognitive dissonance surrounding the whole experience of a mid-life relocation.
But if I needed another reason to explain why my home in Raleigh is special, now I have it - and it's within earshot of my backyard..
If you are not familiar with the greenway system, please find time to visit. Whether taking a short stroll along Crabtree Creek or peddling up the steep hills of the Art Museum property, you'll discover something wonderful outside.