I did something like that in my little zen area. I like a shrub-lined path a bit, myself, since I go in for dirt paths.
I do not have any ponds in that area, but I could always put a fountain or something in the middle; maybe some gold roses around it, like the prize at the center of the hedge maze. Would be pretty cute. I initially tried the idea elsewhere and found that it just did not work out, not one little bit. Not enough space. I did something with those border hedges I put up, though.
Right, it's something like that... I'm just stuck on, for a few of them, what sort of flowers, what sort of PWPs, that kind of thing. I might ponder out specifics with you. I'm thinking that, if I want to sacrifice my perfect town for it (and I might), I could do a couple of sort of clever ideas. I know one villager is getting her own bench, as soon as I decide which bench.