A Semi-Rural Suburban Area

Buying the house was like being swept up in a huge whirlwind. When we landed we were living in this great house, dazed and happy. And then we opened the door and found ourselves in a brand new bright, shiny land called Oz! Well, actually, it’s Franklin Park. We never specifically set out to live here. It’s just where the house was when we found it. I must say that we couldn’t have accidentally landed in a lovelier spot for happily “ever-aftering” than here, but it was different kind of place than any we had ever lived in before.

While we are now just about 10 or 12 miles north of our former home on the North Side, which was within the city limits, my husband quickly noted that we weren’t in the city anymore. Well, that is certainly true. There isn’t anything even remotely urban about this place. Technically Franklin Park is a suburb, as it was clearly designed with residential living in mind (it is dotted with planned housing communities, including ours) but it doesn’t feel “suburban.” Those wandering through who don’t know better might mistakenly think they are in the country. There are lots of trees and other green areas everywhere, and we are literally within walking distance of two farm markets and within easy driving distance of several others.

But I’ve been to the country, and this definitely isn’t it. The easiest way to tell this is that if you are lost in the country you can go for miles and miles (and sometimes hours) without seeing one landmark or business to help you find your way back out. In the city, on the other hand, even if you are lost in the seediest neighborhood you will shortly come upon a gas station, or a convenience store, or some shady character, or possibly some entirely different neighborhood to help you find your way. In Franklin Park, you can’t drive far without coming across some sort of landmark, although that landmark is more likely to be a church or the sign of a housing community as it is to be a convenience store.

Our welcome packet from Franklin Park arrived in the mail one day and cleared up the confusion. Franklin Park describes itself as a “semi-rural suburban area.” Well, now that’s it – exactly the right description for the area. This place combines the best features of the suburbs and the country, while still being convenient to the city and all its amenities. We are minutes away from the highway, McKnight Road or the Cranberry Township shopping areas, Wexford, and all our old shopping and dining grounds.

There are nearly 12,000 residents and 14 churches in Franklin Park, according to the 2000 Census and Franklin Park’s promotional materials, including a Universalist Unitarian Church. No synagogue, but the nearest one is just 6 miles away in Allison Park. There are lots of activities available to residents, including a monthly ballroom dance and movies in the park. What Franklin Park does not have is a post office of its own; instead residents share a zip code with one of the three neighboring communities of McCandless, Wexford and Sewickley.

While we are close to our former home, we have had a whole new area to explore and discover. And we are delighted with what we’ve found, even within a mile of our new home. There is T-Bones, a tiny grocery store with great prepared foods and pastries, located conveniently off the 79 exit. We like Soergels’s Farm Market and Kaelin’s Farm Market, with their fresh produce and greenhouses. And there’s Bella Frutteto, which has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants. It’s a wonderful little Italian place with good food and interesting décor that is perfect whether you’re having lunch with a friend, or a birthday party for 15 people. Whether or not you live nearby, Bella Frutteto is worth the trip. (http://www.bellafrutteto.com)

Now, I would like to take a moment to give a shout out to the Wexford Giant Eagle, my new favorite supermarket of all time. It’s not just one thing about the place that I like – it’s everything. The people who work there treat their customers with the utmost courtesy and respect. They act as if they are happy to work there and to assist you. No, really! They are concerned that you are finding everything alright. True story- I’m at the deli one day, and I ask the person working there for some ham-off-the-bone. “Very good, ” she said, “and while I am preparing that for you, would you like to try a sample of our pork loin?” When my husband was looking for rye flour, just to discover they didn’t carry it, an assistant manager asked him what brand he liked and said he would look into ordering some. It’s just a very pleasant place to buy food.

Speaking of “finds,” you won’t believe what I found in Cranberry Township, in addition to two Burger Kings, a Perkins Restaurant and a Dress Barn Woman (reason enough to move). A job in my field, just about 5 miles and a 10 minute drive from my new house! This place really is too good to be true.

There’s one big difference between Dorothy in Oz and us in Franklin Park. Dorothy spent all her time in Oz trying to get back to where she came from. We on the other hand aren’t going anywhere.