Outdoor Dining Returns to Kirkwood; High-Speed Fiber Installation Continues; and Public Art is Installed at the Goat Farm

Bloomington, Ind. – Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington. The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress.

 

PARKS & RECREATION

Griffy Lake Dam Trail Crossing–

The Board of Park Commissioners, at their regular March meeting, approved a contract with Scenic Construction Services for the Griffy Lake Dam trail crossing project. The project includes constructing approximately 850 feet of trail and fencing along the top of the dam and a new 200-foot staircase as an access point to the trail system from the parking lot on Dunn Street below the dam. Construction is scheduled to begin in May, with a completion date estimated in late 2023. This is the second phase of the Griffy Loop Trail project – a third phase to improve the trails on the north and south shores is planned for later in 2023 or 2024.

 

Goat Farm– 

New trails around and through the park are paved, and boardwalks on the southwest side of the park are complete. The highly visible red Goat Farm barn was re-roofed in October 2022 and also received new siding, soffit, and fascia. The public art installation "FLEET/ing" by Jonathan Racek was installed in late March 2023. The new parking area on the north end of the park, accessible via the Rogers/High/Winslow roundabout, will be striped this week (weather permitting). Parks staff expect the parking area to open later this month. A ribbon cutting and re-naming ceremony of the park from the "Goat Farm" to "Rogers Family Park" with the Rogers family is tentatively planned for June. 

 

Bryan Park Youth (5-12 yrs.) Playground– 

Parks and Recreation staff collected more than 400 surveys from residents regarding the types of play equipment that should be included in the new playground. The site plan for the playground is under development, and Parks and Recreation staff will work with contractors to design and bid on the playground in the coming months. The new playground is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

 

 

ENGINEERING

17th Street (Monroe to Walnut)– 

A multiuse path is being constructed along the north side of the street, and accessible sidewalk curb ramps are being installed. The street will be resurfaced, and the existing traffic signal at the intersection of 17th Street at Madison Street/Kinser Pike will be replaced. Construction began in April and is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year. Currently, traffic lanes on 17th Street are shifted in preparation for a 45-day closure of the intersection of 17th Street and Madison Street/Kinser Pike that will begin after Memorial Day weekend. More information is available on the project webpage at: https://bton.in/1D30T

  

Downtown Curb Ramps, Phase III– 

Construction was started this month on the replacement of curb ramps in 15 locations throughout the downtown area. This is an intermediate phase of a larger project to make pedestrian improvements in downtown Bloomington. Contractor outreach is continuing for local businesses and residents, and construction is anticipated to continue for the next few months and be completed in early summer. More information is available on the project webpage at: https://bton.in/J7tfx

 

Citywide Fiber Project– 

AEG is building the fiber network that will allow (bloomington.in.gov/fiber) GigaBitNow to provide high-speed fiber internet service (gigabitnow.com/bloomington). The City is overseeing the construction through the right-of-way use permit program. If residents have concerns or questions about construction of the project, AEG can be contacted at 812-269-8805. AEG is responsible for providing door hangers on adjacent properties prior to construction with additional project details and contact information.

 

On Tuesday, Mayor Hamilton, GigabitNow CEO Steve Milton, Hoosier Fiber Networks CEO Clinty Wiley, and Bloomington Housing Authority Administrator Leon Gordon held an event to announce 100 homes in the South Griffy neighborhood are now ready for connection to Hoosier Fiber Network’s fiber internet network, with an additional 3,700 homes expected ready for connection by the end of May. Since the project began, nearly a quarter million feet of fiber optic conduit have been laid, and 3,676 homes passed throughout Bloomington. 

 

Eligible low-income residents may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to receive at least a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mpbs) plan at no cost to the user if ACP is applied. The City and Hoosier Fiber Networks will together provide the “drop” connection to qualifying households. Learn more about Tuesday’s event at:  https://bton.in/o2k88

   

 

PUBLIC WORKS

Crack Seal Program–

The Street Division crews will begin applying a crack sealant in Park Ridge East the week of April 10th. Streets scheduled for maintenance are Morningside Drive, Sheffield Drive, and Park Ridge Road. This is common post-winter maintenance to help protect street infrastructure after the cold weather season. 

 

Outdoor Dining on Kirkwood–

Another season of outdoor dining and expanded pedestrian activity on Kirkwood began Monday, April 3rd, with the installation of bollards. Blocks closed to east-west traffic include Indiana to Dunn, Dunn to Grant, and a half block from Washington to Walnut. While the street is closed, traffic can flow north and south on the streets intersecting Kirkwood. The dates of the closure are April 3 to September 30. Learn more at: https://bton.in/pm_ty

 

BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT

New Sunday Service– 

Sunday bus service has expanded; increased service went into effect on March 26th. Hourly service has been added to 2 South, 2 West, 3 East, 3 West, and 7 South between 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. All bus schedules can be found at: https://bton.in/vn3co

 

Free Rides– 

To celebrate the new Sunday service, all Bloomington Transit rides on Sundays will be FREE until the end of the month (April 30, 2023). Learn more about Bloomington Transit at: bloomingtontransit.com.