Freshman Noah Smith said he and his family bike from their home on Lake of the Isles to Beth El Synagogue almost every week. The trails would assist the Smith family on their weekly trek.

“There would be no risk of cars and it would be more accessible,” Smith said. “It would be less dangerous.”

A new program put together by the St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Office will help build 12 sidewalks and trails by 2014.

Connect The Park! is a 10 year, $17 to $24 million project adding a system of bike trails and sidewalks into St. Louis Park that started in 2012.

Sean Walther, senior planner for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department said the schools were a huge consideration when planning the initiative.

“We have included school areas as prime locations. Our concentration has been on the junior high and high school for the bike trails and on the elementary schools for the sidewalks,” Walther said.

Junior Dave Herrera said he will get a lot of usage out of the expanded bikeways.

“I love it because I am a big biker. We don’t have enough trails in the city considering Minneapolis is such a big biking community,” Herrera said.

Walther said this plan is aimed at substituting driving with biking.

“We wanted to create a transportation network that is alternative to cars,” Walther said he believes the trails will be more eco-friendly.

Herrera said he thinks students will utilize the system.

“It is a good way to stay in shape, save money on gas, help the environment and enjoy nature,” Herrera said

Walther said part of the idea is to give everyone access to these constructions.

“We are going to establish a quarter mile grid of sidewalks and a half mile system of trails,” he said.

This system will help those who bike frequently.

Sophomore Kennedy Septon said he supports the trails as they would provide a safer means for cyclist.

Septon said he was recently hit by a car while biking.

“I was going to the bike trail actually, crossing the street and a woman just came out of nowhere,” he said.

Septon said he thinks the trails will help lower the safety risk that bikers may face when riding on streets.

“The other people on the trails are not in a vehicle so they can’t hurt you,” Septon said.