MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Spring has officially sprung, birds are chirping and brand new improvements to Meridian Township parks have began.

"We had a lot of projects that began in 2015 that as soon as the snow melts we are ready to finish those up here in 2016," said Meridian Township's Director of Parks & Recreation LuAnn Maisner.

One of the park projects that has begun is the re-construction of a new pavilion in Wonch Park which is located off Okemos Road.

"The pavilion that was there was constructed in 1974 I believe. It has really served the community extremely well, but it was time for something new," Maisner said.

In addition to that, covered dugouts at the two ball fields located at Hartrick Park will also be installed this Spring.

"The concrete pads have been poured but now the fencing and the roof structures will be installed," said Maisner.

Even new playground equipment at Orlando Park is in the works.

"Clifford the big red dog is going to be the centerpiece of the new equipment that's added and we're working with the Haslett Library for a story trails," Maisner excitedly mentioned.

But besides the improvements happening in Meridian Township, Ingham County has plans of their own as well.

"What they're focusing on initially are bridges that need to be replaced or repaired," Maisner stated.

"Of the 55 bridges that we have in the trail systems across the county, they estimated we needed to do about $20 million dollars worth of repairs," said Teri Banas, Chair of the Ingham County Parks & Trails Task Force.

The Ingham County Parks & Trails Millage was approved back in November 2014 but deciding how to spend those dollars was tough.

"It's a big price tag…it's more than we can do in one year, or two, or three," Banas said.

Another exciting project expected to happen in the near future is the construction of the MSU to Lake Lansing Connector Trail.

According to LuAnn Maiser, there will be 3 phases to complete this process:

1.) "The first phase will begin on campus at the corner of Hagadorn and Shaw Road and we'll go through the woods, cross the river and then follow the Red Cedar River all the way to Foods for Living and then come up and connect to Park Lake Road."

2.) "Phase two brings you through Park Lake through Campus Hill Apartments on Grand River Avenue and then through the Riseberg Preserve which brings you here to Okemos Road."

3.) "Phase three takes you to Lake Lansing."

"This is really the beginning and it's an exciting beginning," said Banas.

"We're all working together as a team to make this happen and we hope to report something at the end of the year that's very positive for our community," Maisner mentioned with a big smile across her face.