LEWISTON — A view that many in Lewiston take for granted could become one of the premiere pathways in the Northeast.

Supervisor Fred Newlin said Monday night that the engineering firm Hatch Mott MacDonald, which will design a new $2 million scenic pathway, walked the Niagara Gorge with a prestigious firm from New York City, Alta, last week.

HMM will present its plans to the board next month to construct a scenic trail that will connect the Upper and Lower Gorge. The idea to connect Niagara Falls to Youngstown with a Niagara River path stalled years ago because of the cost and difficult gorge terrain in Lewiston.

Greenway funding from the Niagara Power Project relicensing, a federal grant from Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, and town money has put the project back on track.

Newlin said the town is looking at several optional paths to connect the upper and lower escarpment, including one plan that would use parts of the Robert Moses Parkway.

In another matter, if and when the Town of Lewiston should spray for mosquitoes was also discussed.

Newlin said that the matter needed to be studied because the state Department of Environmental Conservation does not recommend spraying due to the toxicity of aerial spray.

Councilman Ernest Palmer said that spraying also was a quality-of-life issue.

Also, the board discussed building a Public Works building that would serve as a break room and meeting room for 30 to 35 employees. The current lunch room was destroyed by a fire several months ago.

The board tabled the discussion after the size and cost became an issue.

Highway Supervisor Steven Reiter has asked to more than quadruple the size, going from a 400-square-foot lunch room to an 1,800-square-foot meeting room and lunch room, with extra bathrooms and showers.

Because the insurance on the destroyed lunchroom was $17,000, and the new building would cost $100,000, board members said they would need more information on how the building would be paid for and who would us it. A committee to discuss the new building was formed.