https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=208765 Closed by Gretchen Knapp A response was posted, and the Board of Public Works has voted to approve the 2026 guidelines.

https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=208765 Gretchen Knapp commented on this case. Thank you for your message. For 2026, outdoor dining will be available in parklets for those restaurants who choose to participate, and the street as a whole will remain open. We know many people have passionate preferences, and there is not a unanimous preference for a closed street, either from the public or from the businesses along Kirkwood. In 2025, only 5 of the 25 restaurants participated in activating the closed street, and none of the other businesses or organizations participated. Some businesses reported that the closed street actually harmed their business. Of the 5 that participated in 2025, only 4 were interested in participating in 2026. "Lack of participation" is one of the reasons cited in the ordinance that would merit canceling or altering the program. While those 5 restaurants were busy some days at meal times, during the rest of the 24/7 hours when the street was closed, the area was not activated, creating opportunities for negative public safety outcomes. We also found difficulties in creating whole street events like PrideFest and Taste of Bloomington, due to block closures where the street was already taken up by 1 or 2 restaurants. Further, we received feedback from residents with mobility issues that the closed street increased their challenges in enjoying downtown. It's worth noting that many of the businesses and residents who support opening the street did not feel comfortable making public statements, given the tensions that can emerge around issues with no clear majority. The City takes into account all the communications it receives, in public and in private. Ultimately, we determined that the most fair approach is to use parklets to allow those 4 businesses to continue outdoor dining, and to allow residents to enjoy that feature, as we do, while not creating unfair burdens to other businesses and residents.

https://bloomington.in.gov/crm/tickets/view?ticket_id=208765 Anonymous assigned this case to Gretchen Knapp You can use the link to follow progress on this case.