A proposed extension of the walking trails at the Troy Sportsplex would be the first of two expansions planned for the popular center.

Troy city council members on Tuesday authorized the application for a $100,000 grant, along with a $20,000 local match, to expand the trails.

The project would extend the trail north to the Sportsplex’s soccer complex and create a loop around those fields adding an additional 4,000 feet to the path, something Troy Parks and Recreation Director Dan Smith said is a great addition.

“It’ll be close to a 2-mile trail with the addition,” Smith said. “We would like to add a third phase of the trail in a couple of years that will put it at around a 3-mile trail.”

The trail is currently 1.1 miles long and opened in 2010.

“(It) has been a pleasant surprise for all our guests and visitors when they walk on the trail for the first time,” Smith said. “We have a lot of regular customers. A lot of people come seasonally when the weather is not too hot or not too cold … Instead of walking in their neighborhood every night, they might come out to the Sportsplex for variety two or three nights a week.”

Smith said even though a full 3-mile long trail was a few years off, many organizations already utilize the trail for 5K runs.

“Troy City School System is going to have a 5K on Oct. 24 that they utilize the walking trail and our property,” Smith said.

Smith said officials expect to hear about the grant application in October.

“We hope that we make it past the first stage and into the second stage of applicants,” Smith said. “We believe it’s an excellent project, but there is always the possibility it will not be funded or selected for the project. It just depends on how much competition there is around the state for recreational walking trail projects. We’re crossing our fingers and hoping we are selected.”