East Lansing City Council members may approve a $175,470 contract for new development of a park near Harrison Avenue.

The Harrison Meadows Park is primarily a wooded area with trails for walking, jogging and cross country skiing.

A small portion of the park will be developed if the contract agreement is approved by the council.

Tim McCaffrey, East Lansing parks and recreation facilities director, said the park will have many improvements made after the development.

“This development is primarily to serve the people of the small, surrounding neighborhood,” he said. “There has not been any improvement to the park, and it will be a benefit for the residents.”

A gravel drive, playground equipment, basketball courts, picnic pavilion and pathways will be installed as part of the improvements.

The project development will be funded partly by a $77,920 transfer from the general fund to the capital improvements fund.

Another issue to be discussed and decided upon is the installment of a pedestrian bridge over a drainage easement. The project will be part of the second phase of the Northern Tier Trail, which has already begun construction.

The trail will extend 1.5 miles around Abbott Road Park and the Abbott Parkside neighborhood.

The first part of the trail, which began construction in 1997, is a 1.9 mile path that extends across Abbott Road into Meridian Township. The addition to the trail will cost the city about $376,000. It is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

Council members will meet at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Union Gold Rooms A and B.