by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Bedford -- If all goes as planned, construction on a nature trail behind City Hall could begin later this month.
Rebecca Corrigan, Bedford economic development director, said the city will host a pre-bid meeting July 6 where city officials will explain to contractors plans for the project.
"We hope to award a bid July 16 and the project would begin shortly after that," Corrigan said. "We hope to have the project complete by the end of the year."
Corrigan said the trail would begin at the back of City Hall, 165 Center Road, and extend more than 1,400 feet to Ellenwood Center, 124 Ellenwood Ave.
She said 1,060 feet of the trail will be handicapped accessible asphalt and 400 feet will be limestone. Corrigan said part of the trail will be a footbridge that goes over a creek that runs through the property.
"We are going to use recycled planks for the bridge and part of the asphalt is also recycled," she said.
Corrigan said there also will be a bioswail, or grassy trench, on the property to protect runoff that could pollute the creek.
"We just feel that taking these steps is the right thing to do," she said. "It is something communities should have been doing and it is starting to be encouraged now."
All along the path there also will be interpretive kiosks, some with health and wellness information and others with "Did you know?" facts about the community.
Corrigan said the project cost is estimated at $300,000, but it will be partially funded by a $150,000 grant from the Cuyahoga County Community Development Block Grant Fund which was awarded in early spring.
"The city had been discussing this trail for a long time, but we were looking for grant money to make it happen," Corrigan said.