Page last updated on May 15, 2025 at 9:41 pm
The B-Link is a .32- mile, asphalt trail between South Henderson Street (at Thornton Drive, near Black Lumber) and South Walnut Street. A High-Intensity Activated crossWalK, or HAWK, signal is activated by trail users who wish to cross South Walnut Street to the Walnut Street entrance to Switchyard Park.
The building of the B-Link
- 2005 – Black Lumber Company expresses interest in selling to the City the abandoned CSX railroad spur that once served the lumber company.
- 2012 – City buys a 30’ wide, .32-mile rail corridor from Black Lumber for $10,000. Money for the purchase was appropriated by the City Council from the Parks Land Acquisition Fund.
- 2014 – Eagle Ridge Civil Engineering begins design of what was then known as the “Black Lumber Trail”. Total design cost was $79,800. 68% of this cost, or $54,240, was paid through federal transportation grant monies administered through the Indiana Department of Transportation.
- May 2016 – Crider and Crider begin construction of the B-Link Trail.
- December 9, 2016 - Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and Parks and Recreation officially open the B-Link Trail.
The bid for constructing the trail was $773,988. 44% of this cost, or $337,746, was paid through federal transportation grant monies administered through the Indiana Department of Transportation. After the final inspection by INDOT, total project cost is estimated to be $962,460. The City of Bloomington covered just over half the cost, or $501,354 while $461,106 was paid for with grant funds.
The B-Link connects the east side of Bloomington with the entrance to Switchyard Park west of South Walnut Street, at the site of the former Wee Willies restaurant that was purchased by the City in 2015.
The City contracted with local graffiti artist Mike Burchfield to paint the former railroad siding at Black Lumber with an energetic and attractive mural.