Walking Trail in the backyard (real estate, condos, buying)

[MAtoNC!]

Maybe the trails here are considered safe because they are so actively used -- safety in numbers type of thing

[ms_info]

If you really like the home then I would consider putting up a nice fence to make your home a little more private. Also, like other posters said you could put up some shrubs.

[meridilli]

yeah, we have liked the floor plan a lot. The only problem is there are not many options left to compare. Not able to count + and - points.

[OmegaBaby]

Originally Posted by TuborgP

Man's body found in Columbia -- baltimoresun.com

This article provides a perspective on foot trails/paths etc. Unfortunately very timely with the OP.

To be fair, the article does say "There were no obvious signs of foul play". So really all this proves is that one downside to having a trail behind your house is that people may drop dead of heart attacks near your home.

[jeannie216]

We actually have the state lands as our backyard...walking trail is much further up, but I will say it is nice to know that no one can build behind your home..........very peaceful.

[NewUser]

Originally Posted by VickiR

My point is that you SHOULD be aware of everything that goes on around you but you can't always be thinking "what if". There is always a positive way and a negative way. See? Something for everyone! Sorry that I didn't explain that a bit more.

Vicki

Exactly! If I worried about every little thing that could happen to me during the day, I'd never get out of bed!

[J_Lurk]

Originally Posted by jbognar

To be fair, the article does say "There were no obvious signs of foul play". So really all this proves is that one downside to having a trail behind your house is that people may drop dead of heart attacks near your home.

That happened on the Black Creek Greenway about a year ago too. Cary Police Seek Public's Help To Identify Deceased Man :: WRAL.com

Clearly greenways cause heart attacks.

Seriously, though, when we bought our house one of my husband's requirements was that he "be able to run with the dog without getting in the car first." So a greenway can be a selling point.

Why not go walk some of the existing Cary greenways and see how it looks from that angle? Some of the sections of the greenway around Bond Park get very close to houses.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by NewUser

Exactly! If I worried about every little thing that could happen to me during the day, I'd never get out of bed!

Whether something will happen or not It is a fact that having a greenway in your backyard you will always have strangers going by your home.

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by TuborgP

The community I am still in prior to moving is much like Cary and has extensive community walking paths. Some like some don't. Those that don't call them crime paths. I had one behind my house prior to selling and for some it was a turn off. It is great if YOU will use it. For us it was great because we had a
dog to walk. Having one near by is nice, behind the house and six feet from the property line is oh well. Will there be any thing to stop walking dogs from presenting in your yard. We lined ours with shrubs etc.

Above is my original post so you know where I personally stand. The reaction to paths where I still live is like this forum some loveum some hate them. I personally don't think paths create anything good or bad. I do believe they can facilitate both good and bad. The most common problem is they provide hidden access in some cases to and from your house during the day. If that is not a problem in your neighborhood then don't worry. Long term the biggest problem would be if your neighborhood/community changes in the out years. A path near a major highway with a shopping center near by provides a quick link from city to suburbs to parking lot to path to where ever and back again. Paths can be wonderful and we loved them. The more people on them the safer they are. Screening helps make them a lot more enjoyable. If you are worried make sure your house is the least desirable one in the neighborhood for criminal intent and have a good alarm system or at least a sign saying you have one and enjoy it we did.

[IdaClaire]

Originally Posted by NewUser

Exactly! If I worried about every little thing that could happen to me during the day, I'd never get out of bed!

Thank you! I know I mentioned this in another thread, but it amazes me how much people worry about dangers that are very unlikely to happen while people are unlikely to spend much time pondering the most likely dangers that are more likely to happen.

The odds of being murdered or even injured in Cary as a result of having a greenway in your backyard are extremely small. The odds of any of us dying in a car accident on our way to and from work or the grocery store are, unfortunately, much higher. Yet, most of us spend more time worrying about being murdered or mugged or whatever than we do worrying about what might happen to us on the highway. It's a curious thing to me. I tend to think a lot about car accidents, but I don't worry much about crime.

Anyway, it is all a matter of personal preference, and I can understand why someone might not want large crowds of people traipsing by the back of their home, but the number of incidents of violent crime on suburban greenways is most likely relatively low.