Some people want the sidewalks downtown remade. Others want sidewalks to the eastern extremeties of Wendell. Still others simply want sidewalks to be handicapped accessible.

All those wants are legitimate points. Making a community more walkable adds incredibly to the quality of life.

Now, it looks like the town of Wendell is finally moving forward on at least one sidewalk front.

In his weekly memo to commissioners and department heads, Town Manager David Bone reported that the town's application for a Rural Business Enterprise Grant had been approved.

The money will come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The best news, though, is that the USDA is awarding more money than the town originally asked for.

In its application, the town asked for $75,000 from the USDA. That amount would be matched by the town to complete the first phase of a host of sidewalk improvements in downtown.

But the USDA's Rhonda Toppings told commissioners at a meeting in July that she thought the USDA could cough up more than the town was asking for. So now the town will get a shade more than $97,000 from the USDA. That means the town will have to spend less of its own money to complete the project.

That project, by the way, will improve sidewalks along Main Street from Third Street to the railroad tracks and along Third Street from Main to Pine. It will also pay for construction of a welcome sign at the entrance to downtown along Wendell Boulevard.

Some of the work to be completed includes removal and replacement of 1,100 feet of sidewalk, construction of 10 wheelchair ramps, three stamped crosswalks and replanting of 22 landscaping areas.

The best part of this news is that town leaders now have about $22,000 to kickstart another sidewalk project.

If, as we reported a few weeks ago, the state ever gets its act together and approves the town's stimulus grant, even more sidewalk work could be done.

Town staffers have been high on an effort to extend a sidewalk down Third Street toward Wendell Park.

If development ever begins again, there are already plans for development to the south of Wendell Park, which would bring the park even further into the center of town. Town leaders expect one day the park will literally be in the center of town.

And with the traffic that facility already sees, it's a good idea to make sure there is safe access for people -- and especially kids -- who want to get there.

In Bone's memo, he tells commissioners that town staffers have been working to meet a Sept. 1 deadline to provide extensive planning details for that project.

If that project comes to pass, town leaders can turn their attention -- and the town's resources -- toward the second and third phases of the downtown sidewalk improvements. Or they could begin to look for solutions to the sidewalk needs along Wendell Boulevard.

But for now, Wendell can only count on the USDA grant. There's no word on when work will begin. When it does, it'll disrupt traffic downtown, but it'll be worth the disruption if the town can make an investment in its basic infrastructure.