As the first phase of Gainesville's Midtown Greenway project nears completion in April, the city is securing funds for the next step of that project.

Gainesville City Council is slated to accept $100,000 in federal funds to help in the construction of the second phase of the Midtown Greenway and for Parker Street improvements.

At a Gainesville work session meeting Thursday morning, Jessica Tullar, projects manager for the city, updated council members on the time line for the trail's completion.

"The current stage one, which goes from Mule Camp down to Martin Luther King, is expected to be finished at the first of April," Tullar said.

Additional roadwork is slated to be completed in mid-April.

Phase one of the project cost about $1.3 million and included greenway construction, stream restoration and parking for the greenway.

The second phase will extend the greenway from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Industrial Boulevard. Tullar expects that could take another 21/2 years to complete.

To help fund that project, the city already took an additional $400,000 in transportation enhancement funds, which are distributed through the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The reimbursement program will require a 20 percent match from the city. That will be paid from a "combination of cash and an in-kind match," according a resolution to be voted on by city council on Tuesday.

With these funds, Tullar said the city will seek preliminary engineering for the second phase.

Tullar said a third phase "has been identified, and we are currently seeking grants for that."