MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Township Board members agreed that more connections between parts of Meridian Township will result in more interaction and cooperation within the community.

A new trail, a gateway bridge and a new restroom facility might be in the future of Meridian Township's Central Park and Historical Village.

Parks and Recreation Director LuAnn Maisner presented the two Park Grant Applications to the Township Board on the board's March 15 meeting.

The first application would build a trail beginning at Central Park, with a bike fixing station and a wheel chair charging station at the head of the pathway.

The trail would be 12 feet wide, 2,500 feet long and paved.

Director Maisner said it is supposed to give Central Park a more herbal and urban feel.

It would include a universally accessible fishing and picnic area, while also having connections beyond the park's boundaries - for example, on Marsh Road to Service Center and other trails in the area.

Another connection between Michigan State University and Lake Lansing Road would be created and used as a connector.

Applications are due April 1, with a decision being made in December.

If approved, this application to the DNR will be the beginning of the implementation process, which would take place in 2017-18.

Township Clerk Brett Dreyfus is in support of this project, with support from Treasurer Julie Brixie.

Brixie said that the trail needs to be big enough to accommodate faster cyclists, so that they don't scare off slower bikers, but Trustee John Veenstra said the 12-foot trail will have an impact on the nature, even though he said the concept is terrific.

Brixie also said that when voters approved the park mileage, they wanted more connective parks.

The second Park Grant Application is the possible transformation of the current six-foot wide bridge to a 14-foot wide gateway bridge in Central Park/Meridian Historical Village.

Director Maisner said that the goal is to make the place fun and accessible, where everyone can get to other parts of the park easily.

There would also be a new restroom facility, still fitting with the current architecture in the Historical Village.

It currently has one restroom in the farmer's market facility, which is worn out according to Maisner.

Since the locations hosts many events, such as weddings, more accessibility will mean more visitors.

The project would cost $300,000.

Trustee Milton Scales supposed the project, and Brixie said the new restroom facility would be great and that they should close the old one.

Dreyfus asked the reason for the width of the gateway bridge, and Maisner explained that 14 feet is standard, while 12 feet (the park's possible new trail) is custom, which costs more money.