City Provides Update on Gateway Project

The City of Bloomington announced today a modification in the timeline of the Bicentennial gateway project planned for installation this fall in Miller-Showers Park on the north side of Bloomington.

Site improvements have been rescheduled for spring 2024 so that Parks and Recreation staff can consider feedback from the public, the design team, and other City departments, boards, and commissions, to determine next steps for the project. The Bicentennial bond issued in 2018, from which the funds for the gateway project were appropriated, remains dedicated to invest in costs associated with the gateway project. 

“We are looking at multiple ways to move this project forward in a positive way that considers both the public feedback received and the work that has gone into this project since its inception in 2018,” said Tim Street, Interim Director of Parks and Recreation. “That includes considering adjustments in design and ideas for the gateway element itself.” 

In May, the Board of Park Commissioners approved a contract for $395,105 with Indianapolis-based bo-mar Industries for the fabrication and installation of the gateway. bo-mar has to date completed primarily structural engineering and electrical design for the gateway element; the gateway itself has not yet been fabricated. 

The Board of Park Commissioners approved an additional contract with Reed & Sons Construction of Bloomington for $575,000 for site improvement work including removing invasive Callery pear trees, installing sidewalks, reconstructing the pedestrian island on Gourley Pike and repairing asphalt, as well as landscaping the area and pouring a foundation for the gateway element itself.

The missing 120-foot section of sidewalk in front of the former Steak N' Shake restaurant at 1919 N. College Ave will be installed in the coming weeks to improve connectivity in the gateway area and allow appropriate pedestrian detours during future phases of construction. A lane and sidewalk closure request must be approved by the Board of Public Works before Reed & Sons Construction can proceed with remaining site work next spring. 

"We heard from some members of our community that they wanted additional time for  public input and feedback for the Bicentennial gateway project, which began in 2018 but was interrupted by the pandemic," said Angela Van Rooy, Interim Communications Director for the City of Bloomington. "We have already taken steps to expand our communication efforts and to provide additional time for feedback from all interested parties."

Plans for the future of the Bicentennial gateway project will be shared with the community via City-issued news releases, social media channels, and on the Bicentennial Gateway Project website at bloomington.in.gov/parks/gateway as plans are developed. Community members may sign up to receive email updates on the gateway project by registering at bton.in/inbox.

Bicentennial Gateway Project Timeline

• The Bloomington Common Council on Oct. 31, 2018, approved the sale of $10 million in bonds for a variety of Bicentennial projects, including the construction, art, and landscaping of four to six gateways to the City. A total of $1.25 million was set aside for the development and installation of the gateways.
• The Board of Park Commissioners on July 23, 2019, approved a contract with Indianapolis-based Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) for $45,800 to complete conceptual design work on the Bicentennial gateways. Four potential gateway locations were identified: Arlington pedestrian bridge over State Road 45/46; Bloomfield Road at Twin Lakes Sports Park; State Road 46 and East Third Street; and the traffic island north of Miller-Showers Park.
• Parks and Recreation held a public open house Dec. 15, 2019, to unveil the proposed concepts for three signature gateways: At Miller-Showers Park, on the Arlington pedestrian bridge on State Road 45/46, and Bloomfield Road near Twin Lakes Sports Park. The East Third Street site was eliminated from consideration, as it was located on private land. The conceptual designs included the proposed size, construction materials, themes, graphic features and architectural and landscape elements. A total of 34 public comments about the gateway concepts were received online between Dec. 10, 2019, and Feb. 10, 2020.
• REA presented a Bicentennial gateway project update to the Board of Park Commissioners at their regular meeting on April 28, 2020. The three proposed gateway designs incorporated input from the public, Parks and Recreation staff, and City administration.
• Parks and Recreation staff restarted the Bicentennial Gateway project after it was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff reviewed REA's conceptual designs for the three gateway sites and determined the estimated costs to be over budget. At their May 22, 2022 meeting, the Board of Park Commissioners approved an additional contract with REA for $133,925 for two, scaled-back gateway designs at Miller-Showers Park and the Arlington pedestrian bridge.
• Final schematic concepts of the two gateway sites were presented to the Board of Park Commissioners at their Dec. 13, 2022 meeting. A public open house was held Dec. 15, and an additional 59 people submitted feedback and comments regarding the gateway designs online between Dec. 16, 2022, and Jan. 6, 2023.
• The Indiana Department of Transportation in spring 2023 informed the City of its plans to replace the Arlington pedestrian bridge in the next 10 years. Staff eliminated the Arlington pedestrian bridge from consideration as a gateway site due to its limited lifespan.
• A contract for $395,105 with bo-mar Industries for the structural design, fabrication, and installation of the Bicentennial gateway at Miller-Showers Park was approved by the Board of Park Commissioners on May 16, 2023. To date, $32,628 has been paid to bo-mar Industries for the structural engineering and associated design work of the gateway element.
• A contract for $575,000 with Reed & Sons Construction for site work necessary for the installation of the gateway, and sidewalk and paving improvements to the surrounding area, was approved by the Board of Park Commissioners on July 27, 2023. To date, $13,759 has been paid to Reed & Sons Construction for project startup costs.
• Parks and Recreation issued a news release Sept. 5, 2023 announcing the fall 2023 installation timeline for the monolith-style Bicentennial Gateway at Miller-Showers Park.
• The Board of Public Works considered but did not act on requests to issue a Right of Way Permit for construction of the project at their Sept 12, Sept. 26, and Oct 10 meetings.