Construction on the second phase of the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail may prove more challenging than the first for Niles Charter Township.

However, township officials are also saying that portion of the trail has the chance to be the most beautiful because it would run through the lush Brandywine Creek Nature Park and over the creek.

“It can be the crown jewel of Michigan,” said Harry Thibault, Niles Township park commission chairman, at Monday’s regular meeting of the township trustees.

The I-M River Valley Trail is a multi-use recreational trail that, when finished, will connect the City of Niles with Mishawaka, Indiana, with 34 miles of trail. A portion of the trail in Niles Township stretching 3.3 miles from the state line to the Brandywine Creek Nature Park is scheduled to be finished by the end of July or early August.

The second phase of the project would connect that portion of the trail to an already finished portion in the City of Niles.

Phase two is expected to cost a little more than $600,000 with the City of Niles and Niles Township jointly responsible for paying approximately $178,000 of that, Thibault said. The rest would be covered by state grants.

Terry Eull, township clerk, said the township needs to develop a plan quickly for phase two because grant applications are due by April 2015.

“I don’t think we can wait,” he said.

The township formed a committee to research options for the second phase consisting of Herschel Hoese, Richard Cooper and Chris Vella.

Supervisor Jim Stover said the challenging part would be keeping the trail grade at less than 5 percent (to comply with the American Disabilities Act) as it moves past the nature park and through or around the ALCOA property to the north. There is a large change in elevation in that area. The length of the trail for phase two is about one mile.

Also Monday, the township:

• Announced that a bicycle and trail safety forum would be held at 7 p.m. July 16 and Aug. 6 at Niles Township Hall. Michigan State Police Trooper Rob Herbstreith will host it. Attendees will get to ride the trail after the presentation.

• Extended open burning permits to be allowed until Aug. 7 as residents clean up from the recent storm damage. Call the fire station at (269) 683-3311 for permits