City of Warren officials presented a fourth preliminary design for the future of Warren’s riverfront during a public engagement session earlier this week.

The first design by the city but a boat launch into the Allegheny River at the base of Liberty St.

The Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry subsequently presented two designs that shifted the scope of the redevelopment effort west to the Breeze Point Landing area.

The fourth proposal? A shift downstream to the Breeze Point Landing area, including a floating dock and boat ramp.

Photo from the City of Warren A look at the proposal for the future of Warren’s riverfront. A public comment period has been opened on this design. From there, the project is expected to move into final design.

City Engineer Chad Yurisic called this proposal a “hybrid concept of the original.”

The primary complicating factor? Mussels in the Allegheny River.

He said the preliminary results were received a few weeks ago and show a “fairly high concentration of endangered mussels in the area.

“This is the largest constraint on the project,” Yurisic said.

It means that the launch can’t encroach into the river.

So the design presented Monday will place a boat lane and floating dock at Breeze Point just west of the existing gazebo.

There will be multiple sets of rock stars to directly access the river, trailer parking on the current concrete pad adjacent to the townhouses and the traffic flow on Breeze Point Circle will be reversed.

The rendering presented Monday also includes a boat trailer prep area and a community directory kiosk that will include a drinking fountain and bottle fill station as well as trash bins.

Yurisic said the proposal provides a “couple access points” for kayaks. “I think this alternative gives you several options to put in and take out.”

A question was asked during the session about the possibility of a rack system to house canoe and kayaks on the bank.

“We could look at a rack system,” Yurisic said. “(That is) something not included in this design.”

Mayor David Wortman said the design is a “way to be able to bring a number of different users to the waterfront.”

Yurisic said this proposal “minimizes utility conflicts” and won’t require construction activity in the river.

$3.1 million has been committed to the project from several local, county and state agencies.

Yurisic said there is a need for additional fundraising.

City Manager Mike Holtz said it’s not clear whether the final cost will fit in that $3.1 million but he said the city feels comfortable that the $3.1 is “in the ballpark.”

He speculated there may be a need for an additional 10 to 15 percent to be raised.

The concept pitched Monday is currently considered in “preliminary design.”

A 30-day public comment period through March 27 will allow for stakeholders and the community at large to

give their feedback. Information on how to comment can be found at the top of the city’s website – cityofwarrenpa.gov.

Completion of the comment period will allow the project to proceed to final design.

Yurisic said the first step there will be permits, including with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Once we have all the permits in hand, we can advertise for bids… then move into the construction phase,” he said. “(We are) conservatively estimating one year for construction. Will it take that long? Maybe, maybe not”

Not only will the proposal transform Breeze Point, it will also resolve a 30-year public safety concern, shifting boating traffic away from the helipad at Crescent Park.

A timeline presented would see the permits secured by April 1, 2025 so the project can go out for bid. Current

estimates would see a construction phase from Sept. 2025 until Sept. 2026.

Yurisic said part of the thought behind a year-long construction period is that there won’t be much construction season left next year by the time bids are awarded.