Recreation Programs | City of Bloomington, Indiana

Page last updated on August 14, 2025 at 10:50 am

Parks and Recreation Programs

Programs and events designed for preschoolers, youth, teens, adults, senior adults, families, dog owners, and participants with varying degrees of ability.
Recreation activities are held at Department facilities including:
Allison-Jukebox Community Center
Banneker Community Center
Switchyard Park
Showers Common
Community Gardens

Apply online for a Bloomington Parks Foundation scholarship for recreation programs

Kid City Break Days - Day-long camps at the Allison-Jukebox Community Center during MCCSC school breaks

Subcategories

Community Events

Cultural and outdoor activities for education, enjoyment, and a sense of community.

Free-time Play

Unstructured, free-time recreation for babies, youth, and teens.

Living & Learning

Enriching, active programs for adults, children, and families

Music & Dance

Dance for fun and fitness.

Nature & the Outdoors

Short, educational programs that highlight the wonder and mystery of our natural world

Other

Community Gardening at Willie Streeter and Butler Park Community Gardens, plus gardening classes.

Activities

Small Garden Planning and Design

Basics of crop planning and design for a three season garden

The Joy of Journaling

Find joy in recording the wins and losses of the upcoming garden season.

Imaginary Zoo by You! - A Spring Break Series

Let your imagination run wild with us!

Community Zoo by You

Earn honorary Zookeeper status by creating animal crafts with us!

Maple Syrup Made Easy

Learn to identify sugar maple trees and techniques to harvest the sap.

Signs of Spring Hike

A guided hike at Griffy Lake to observe the seasonal changes.

Spring Moth Night

Come see which moths are found throughout Bloomington!

Frog Songs

Learn about local frog species and how to identify their calls.

Who's Here Forest Hike

Take a winter hike while tracking and looking for evidence of animals that remain active in the forests.

Poetry in Place

Enjoy various readings from local authors as we move through the forest talking about the relationship between inspiration and place

Migratory Bird Feeders

Construct bird feeders to support those migrating birds moving through Southern Indiana.

Spring Ephemerals Hike

Hike through the forest as the first flowers of spring bring it back to life.

Pollinator Habitat Workshop

Learn how to restore pollinator habitat with the Urban Greenspace Team and biologists from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nature Break

After reading a book together, we will hit the trails and explore!

Creating Wildlife-Friendly Yards

Create a wildlife-friendly yard.

Water Wonders Hike

Learn about the wonders of water at Griffy Lake.

Hike & Seek

Come experience nature at a preschool pace!