GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — Town Supervisor Nate McMurray has a fitting metaphor for Grand Island this spring. 

"It's like we've planted a lot of seeds, and now it's time to harvest," McMurray said.

Cashless tolling has already begun and the process to remove the toll booths is underway.

The new welcome center near the Whitehaven Road exit is slated to be done this summer.

"It's going to be much more reflecting the entire history of Western New York and not just a history of the moment. The history that we should be proud of that goes back to the golden age of Buffalo to the golden age that's coming back here today," McMurray said.

He points to the former Dunlop headquarters that's been replaced by the Holiday Inn Express and set to open next month.

"There was no sewer lines going to that facility," McMurray said. "That facility was closed for decades."

New York State Parks began its transformation this month to turn West River Parkway from a road into a multi-use trail.

McMurray says it's an important first step to make Grand Island the centerpiece of the Niagara River and the greenway.

"I think Grand Island should be encircled by a trail. We have half the island covered by a trail now. Once upon a time, a long time ago, the whole island had a trail around it, and we should go back to that," McMurray said.

As the town looks to the future, McMurray says a new Town Hall could be in the cards.

He says that CannonDesigns is considering moving its offices to Buffalo and the Town Board recently did a walkthrough of their facility.

"In my mind, it would be great to turn that facility into a Town Hall and do a new center of Grand Island right here off the highway that people could visit, and people could be drawn to, and maybe put a fieldhouse on there," McMurray suggested.