A bike path from New Bedford to the Cape could be a reality in the near future, and some of Wareham’s schools could be its beneficiaries.

At a meeting of the School Committee Wednesday night, Michael Langford and members of the Wareham Community Pathway Committee communicated the group’s desire to complete the Wareham section of the South Coast Bikeway, with Decas Elementary and Minot Forest Elementary both falling within its reach.

Langford said that the schools’ principals could apply for and receive grants that would aid in the path’s construction.

“There are some programs out there that are available to schools in which there is lots and lots of grant money available for one mile around public schools where our kids could get to school either by bikes, by walking to school, and so forth,” said Langford. “We would hope to incorporate some of that in constructing our linear parkway around the schools as we’re coming down through there.”

“That actually takes some efforts by the principals of those schools to apply for those grants,” he added.

Langford said the committee has been working for years to get the project in motion, and with Marion and Mattapoisett both on board to connect the existing pathway in Fairhaven and Mattapoisett, Wareham would be a key component connecting it to Buzzards Bay and beyond.

The Wareham portion would cover a 13-mile stretch through town, including Main Street, Minot Avenue, and Onset Avenue, with some sections sharing the road with cars and others being off-road.

“We’re not trying to take any private lands,” said Langford. It’s a big project but we’re excited about it. We’ve been doing this for quite a while.”

“The ultimate goal is to tie into the South Coast pathway,” he added. “Marion just finished its PIF (Project Initiation Form), and Mattapoisett’s already working on a two-mile stretch.”

He said projects like this are generally funded 90 percent by state money and 10 percent by municipalities. Having the school’s apply for funding would help make up a chunk of that 10 percent. He said they are nearing the process of completing Wareham’s PIF.

Langford said that community projects like this are good ways to get students involved in the business and construction side of things, as well.

“The kids from [Distributive Education Clubs of America] could help to understand some of the projects,” he said. “And there are things the Junior ROTC could help along with.”

He said the school-related areas of the pathway would likely extend a half-mile on two sides of the two schools.

Several committee members expressed interest in the path and thanked the group for bringing the suggestions to them.

“I’m thrilled with the idea of the path being extended from New Bedford all the way to the Cape,” said school committee member Judy Capporiccio, adding that she’s a member of the Bay Area Senior Cyclists.

“I appreciate your efforts,” said committee member Dr. Clifford Sylvia, noting that currently, cars in Wareham park in the existing bike lanes in town and he’d like to see more law enforcement. “We want everyone to support the bike path.”