Stand on the bridge on Water Street on a clear morning and tell me that view isn't worth protecting. Better yet — stand there and try to ignore the decades of neglect that surround it.

The Shiawassee River is one of Owosso's greatest assets and we have systematically underinvested in it for generations. While other Michigan communities have built riverfront trails, amphitheaters, kayak launches, and economic development anchored on their waterfronts, ours is largely inaccessible, underdeveloped, and underappreciated.

That's not a criticism of any particular administration. It's an observation about priorities. And the good news is, priorities can change.

With the downtown revitalization plan now approved, there is an opportunity — if the city has the vision to take it — to extend the conversation to the riverfront. Studies from similar-sized Michigan communities show that accessible riverfronts generate significant local economic activity and property tax revenue within five years of investment.

This is not a luxury. This is economic development. Let's start treating it that way.

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