Manchester planners yesterday endorsed a half-mile bicycle path in south Manchester that the developer of the Shaw’s Supermarket plaza has offered to construct.

But one member of the planning board and a city park’s official worried that details of the trail appear to be lacking. “It’s a great plan. I just think we need to take a step back,” cautioned Ron Johnson, deputy director of city parks and recreation department.

But the trail advocates prevailed, eager to grab a deal they said would get substantial work done and save the city money.

“I’m not looking to just slap down pavement, absolutely not,” said John St. Hillaire, chairman of the Queen City Trail Alliance.

Feldco Development Co., which is building the Shaw’s Supermarket plaza on South Willow Street, has offered to build the trail on 2,500 feet of abandoned Manchester-Lawrence railroad track between Spring Garden Street and Nutts Pond.

The work is worth about $140,000, St. Hillaire estimated. Feldco will do it for free if it can begin the work in mid-August, St. Hillaire said. Otherwise, the company will make a $40,000 payment toward trail construction that it is required to make under the terms of its city permit.

Johnson and Planning Board member Peter Capano said the designs for the trail don’t include lighting, water lines for fountains and drainage.

New Hampshire Union Leader / by Mark Hayward