SAN ANTONIO -- City council has awarded a contract in the amount of just under $3.6 million to extend the Leon Creek Greenway. The Greenway currently begins along the creek at North Loop 1604 and winds its way southward to Bandera Road.

The new extension will add about 5.7 miles to the Greenway and link no fewer than two more city parks with the system.

Users of the Greenway can hardly wait for the added mileage.

"I think its great,"said Luis Montemayor, a mountain-biker riding the Greenway on Thursday. "I think to add on to this park (is) awesome. There's a lot of riders out here and we could always use more trail. Its a great thing."

Other users of the system think the addition of mileage will help to reduce the weight of the people who use it.

"That's great," said Alfred Alva, after riding the Greenway on his mountain bike on Thursday. "I think the city is getting more health conscious and it's just going to give us a healthier city."

Construction begins in April and should be wrapped up in just under a year.