POULSBO — It may not be the troll under the bridge that Councilman Jim Henry mentioned in jest, but members of the city council’s community services committee see it as a step in the right direction.

In September, Bight of Poulsbo founder Bill Austin mentioned an idea of making the Lindvig Bridge, which separates Nelson Park and Fish Park, look more appealing and returned to the committee Oct. 12 with a clearer proposal.

“I think this could put Poulsbo on the map,” said Austin as he distributed sketches of what could be put on the bridge.

Discussions with City Engineer Andrezj Kasiniak have provided the parameters of what could be done to the bridge without compromising its structural integrity, Austin told the committee.

“I really would like to see lights on there and (the words) ‘Lindvig Bridge’ would be sandblasted into it so it’s permanent,” he said.

Grooves could also be placed in the sidewalk along with the pavement being dyed to help it blend in better with the Fish Park theme, he said.

“It would make it look much more like a bridge and I would also like to introduce poles with hanging baskets,” he said, noting that the work could be done for $33,500 plus permits and would be done by the Bight of Poulsbo.

As she thanked Austin for his presentation, Councilwoman Connie Lord reminded Councilman Ed Stern and Councilwoman Kathryn Quade of a potential funding source for the project.

“We do have a fund that is earning money and we’ve got a lot of that $33,500,” Lord said.

Quade then asked Parks and Recreation Director Mary McCluskey if the fund has any restrictions that would limit how the money is used.

“No restrictions, only that it be beautification and permanent,” McCluskey replied.

After looking at the fund balance in the Borgen Fund, the result of a donation to the city, Stern said that funding could pay for half of the project with rest coming out of three of the city’s unallocated funds.

“Everyone passes through there and we have two of our newest parks there,” Stern said. “It could be a link between the two.”

Stern recommended that the issue be forwarded to the finance committee in terms of a 50/50 matching requirement in the 2006 budget. With Lord’s and Quade’s approval the proposal was passed to the finance committee, which will discuss it at its Nov. 16 meeting.