We wonder what the tenor of local discussion regarding improvements to Warren’s area of the Allegheny River will be if the PA Wilds region is successful in its bid for a $100 million federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant.

There is an awful lot of “Doubting Thomases” out there whenever the subject of change along the Allegheny River is broached here. Some of those doubts are, no doubt, rooted in doubts about raising the money for pie in the sky plans. Others question the direction of some developments in the first place.

Advancing to the second phase of the competition comes with some benefits, namely, a $500,000 grant to help develop a formal application to pay for identified initiatives. In Warren’s case, that includes a proposed boat launch, riverbank improvements, an enhanced passageway/walkway from Breeze Point to the Conewango River, a redirection of traffic from Liberty Street to Market Street along Clark Street and funding for a bicycle pump track facility.

For Warren residents, we hope the $500,000 grant has an ancillary benefit — answering some questions so there are fewer “Doubting Thomases” when the subject of riverfront improvements comes up.