MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - At the July 8th Meridian Township Planning Commission meeting, the Meridian Township Parks and Recreation Department requested to work in a flood plain and to fill in a regulated wetland to construct a pedestrian/bicycle pathway on the north side of Central Park Drive, West of Marsh Road.

Parks and Recreation Director LuAnn Maisner was at the meeting to talk about the project.

"Our plan is to put a boardwalk through that area, also the area that we are paving for the pathway is on existing trail. So this is all existing footpaths that have been in existence for years and years and years, we're just now going to pave over them. We're not looking at a lot of excavation, tree removal and those kinds of things. We're just looking at placing hard surface over existing natural paths between here [Meridian Township Municipal Building] and Central Park South.

When asked about possible flooding, Maisner had this to say about the project.

"Many parks are in the floodplain. We are kind of used to be flooded at times and we build for that," added Maisner.

The Commission all agreed to approve the request, but will wait for the Environmental Commission's input and an EGLE permit, which is wetland regulated by state.

The resolution to approve is expected to be in front of them at their July 22nd meeting.