Rev Ernest D Butler Park

Reverend Ernest D. Butler Park, 9 acres in size, is located at 812 W. Ninth St. at the intersection of West Ninth and North Fairview Streets. Vehicle parking is located on the east and west sides of the park, near the community gardens at the intersection of West Ninth and North Elm Streets and near the playground on North Fairview Street. Bike racks are available at both parking lots. 

Butler Park has a long and colorful history as a city park. It began as West Ninth Street Park, on property was leased by the city, and the first summer concerts sponsored by the Human Relations Committee were held here in 1968. In 1972 the land was still owned by the Illinois Central Railroad. In May 1973, the Board of Park Commissioners voted to repair the spray pool at the park, and to leave the spray pool in its present location.  The spray pool was decommissioned although the exact date is not known. New playground equipment was installed in Ninth Street Park in 1984, and again in 1998. 

West Ninth Street Park was re-named Reverend Ernest D. Butler Park in June 2005 in honor of Reverend Butler, who played a significant role in founding the Bloomington Human Rights and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commissions. Butler died in 2003. He had been the pastor of the nearby Second Baptist Church for more than 40 years.

Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan presented a copy of the park's interpretive sign honoring Reverend Butler's accomplishments to the Butler family in a park re-naming ceremony on June 25, 2005.

Local graffiti artist Mike Burchfield in May 2011 painted murals on the north and east sides of the restroom building at Butler Park.

Fitness station equipment was installed in 2014 by IU Health in an IU Health Day of Service project. The fitness equipment was installed where the old spray pad was located, near the restroom building on Ninth Street.