Euclid City Council has approved the next step in rebuilding the trail from the East 215th Street and Naumann Avenue intersection to Goller Avenue with the potential to later connect Miller Avenue. In order to help pay for the improvements, the city is applying for the Cuyahoga County Supplemental Grant Program for up to $50,000. The grant program draws around $1 million of its funding from the Casino Revenue program. Ward 6 Councilmember John Wojtila questioned if people needed a connection to Miller Avenue. He said he doesn’t know if a trail would be good in that area because it passes near people’s backyards. In response to council’s question, Planning and Development Director Patrick Grogan-Myers said the trail is already being used by people as a desired path because it was “the most logical place to cross,” and that the city is working with the stakeholders in that area. “I’m confident in our ability to be able to address any concerns,” Grogan-Myers said. “That’s a short walk and roughly the same width… but we certainly need to be careful and cognizant of context — which is people’s backyards or next-door. “But as you look at some of the desired paths that we are going on, people have already been using it because it is the most logical connection…” According to planning documents, if the city is awarded the funding from Cuyahoga County, the money must be used toward “‘hard costs such as construction and, while a funding match is not required, a funding match is highly recommended and makes an application more competitive.” As part of Euclid’s Master Plan, which aims to expand walking and biking connections in the city, the project would include “the improvements to the existing off-road, neighborhood connecting trail from the intersection of E. 215th Street and Naumann Avenue to Goller Avenue, and potentially extending the trail to connect to Miller Avenue. “Improvements may include, but are not limited to, regrading, widening, and replacing the existing asphalt trail, adding lighting for visibility and safety, adding amenities, and improving the overall landscape conditions around the trail,” according to the ordinance. The project could start in the early spring or summer, according to Grogan-Myers.