Case Date:

3/6/2018

A vehicle drove through park of Park Ridge Park. The ground was apparently quite wet so the area of the park where the vehicle drove is quite damaged. The damaged location is the part of the park immediately adjacent to the Polly Grimshaw Trail and it needs some attention prior to the season starting in earnest to prevent further damage in that area from erosion on the now exposed ground. Also, some one dug out the the ground and mulch underneath one of the park swings significantly enough that there is quite a pit underneath the western swing and that area needs repair. As a somewhat different note which is more just routine maintenance, a plank on the wooden fence next to the trail head has come loose and fallen (on the northern part of the fence). Also, the leaves from the oak trees have not been removed or otherwise been blown away over winter. Previously this situation has lead to a lack of grass leading to significant erosion and damage to the park terrain. I am guessing the leaves should probably be removed soon, ideally in the fall. Last season, the parks team worked hard to mitigate this issue and it would be a pity to see hard work washed so to speak. On that note, I would like to thank the parks maintenance team for the quick responses to previous requests and concerns that have been made about this park and trail. Thanks a lot! I was really impressed with how easy the whole team was to work with as well as how responsive everyone was to the needs of both the park and the neighborhood. Thanks again!

Case Date:

9/6/2014

Last year after the city paved the small area where the picnic table are located at Ferguson Dog Park, it created a run off area that has since turned into a permanent mud/dog pee pit. All dog owners try to keep their dogs out of it because of how gross it is. It's not very big and could easily be filled with a wheelbarrow full of gravel. Can you please fix this so people can enjoy the park more? Thanks so much!

Case Date:

5/20/2018

Bryan Park parking lots on Henderson Street. The striping on these lots [especially the south lot] is nearly invisible. People are plopping their cars haphazardly and blocking the traffic pattern. Pleas re-stripe these lots. Also, it might be helpful if there were signs warning parents not let their small children wander around the parking lots. This kids are very hard to see when backing out of a parking spot especially when driving a SUV. Thanks

Case Date:

5/31/2018

I have been meaning to submit this for years. At the toddler (upper) Bryan Park playground there is a digger that is entirely inappropriate for the age group. It's too tall, too heavy, too difficult to use for really any kid under the age of 10. My toddler son desperately wants to play with it and has gotten injured or come close to injury numerous times in his attempts. It has very heavy metal arms and it spins so he has had other kids spin it into him... it's shouldn't be on this playground. It would be great if it could be replaced with a smaller one the size of the ones at the lower playground... OR even smaller would be even better as even the lower playground ones are hard for the 2-3 year old age range. The kids definitely WANT a digger... just one they can actually use. Thanks!

Case Date:

6/1/2018

Whoever installed the StoryWalk at Butler (9th St.) Park left two piles of leftover concrete on either side of the paved trail, at the northwest corner. They are a few cubic feet each and have again disappeared into the undergrowth.

Case Date:

6/8/2018

Hello, I've recently stopped going to the Ferguson Dog Park on the Northside of town because it is absolutely improperly managed, the rules are not followed whatsoever by its patrons, and it is dangerous to be there. A few months ago, my two dogs were attacked by an aggressive, un-neutered male dog at the Ferguson dog park. The dog's owner was nowhere to be found as I frantically tried to remove the aggressive dog from my dog (he had one of my dogs by the neck). The aggressive dog then switched his attack to my other dog, grabbing him by the ear and almost ripping it off (I had to pay for staples and stitches at the vet to reattach his ear). With no other option and the owner of the other dog still nowhere in sight, I began pelting the aggressive dog in the head with my leashes to try and remove him from my dog. At this point, there is blood all over the place from both of my dogs' wounds. Finally, when he saw me hitting his dog, the owner decided to appear and began yelling at me, in my face, being very very aggressive. His dog was still attacking my dog so I kept swinging the leash as he was yelling until the owner finally decides to step in and try to control his dog rather than yell in my face. He grabbed his dog by the back of the neck to pull him off and then HIS dog let go and reached around and bit his own owner on the forearm, my dogs immediately ran away once he let go. I instantly start heading for the entrance to collect my dogs and take them to the vet because they are bleeding all over the place. I get about 20 feet from the gate and I'm grabbed by the shoulder by the owner and turned around at which point he continues screaming at me, only about 2 inches from my face. He yelled things like "Your dogs started it! Don't you ever f****ing hit my dog! I'm going to make sure you pay for this! You have pitbulls, this is our fault!" At this point I'm scared for my safety so I get my dogs in the car as quick as I can and only respond with "I'll be calling animal control". The owner had followed me all the way out to my car, yelling profanities the whole time. I immediately took both my dogs to the emergency vet and after stitches, staples, rabies shots, and antibiotics, I get slapped with an $800 vet bill. Im finally able to call animal control to report the attack. The next day, I get a call back from the animal control officer stating the gentleman had also called him and had a completely different story, saying MY dogs attacked his dog and that my dog (which the guy specifically said was a pitbull) bit his arm for no reason and he wanted to press charges! The officer then started questioning the validity of my statement, talking about how pitbulls are dangerous and the other guy's story made more sense since I own an "aggressive" dog breed (even though my dogs were the only ones with injuries). The officer then tried to get my address from me so he could "come look at my dogs" to assess if they were dangerous. I decided to let the issue go because the officer obviously believed the other man and I wasn't going to let my dogs get taken away, I'd rather eat the cost of the vet bill. (If you'd like to see pictures of the extent of my dogs' injuries, please email me at vworthy88@gmail.com). I went to the Ferguson dog park last week with a friend and witnessed another horrible situation in which a person's dog (un-neutered as well) attacked another dog and killed it. My point of writing this complaint is that the city needs to do something about regulating the rules at Ferguson dog park. People should NOT be bringing their un-neutered or un-spayed dogs to the dog park, it is specifically stated in the rules! And yet every time I go to there, I see a handful of un-neutered male dogs every single time. That is dangerous and a huge liability. People also bring their very small children which is also not allowed according to the rules. Ferguson dog park is a tragedy waiting to happen and I just don't understand why it is so impossible for the city of Bloomington to budget a little extra money to pay for an attendant to ensure the rules are followed at the dog park. You are building a huge, fancy park (switchyard), but there's nothing you can do to first ensure the safety of your patrons at the only public dog park in Bloomington?! I would even personally volunteer to be an attendant on days and evenings that I could, free of charge. I will not be visiting the Ferguson dog park until something is done and I will be telling everyone I can to do the same. People do not follow the rules and it is just a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt -- and what's sad is that it will be the dogs who pay the ultimate price. I urge you to look into this matter. I sincerely hope a solution can be found and implemented that protects the dogs and owners who visit Ferguson dog park and follow the rules.

Case Date:

6/11/2018

Large tree has split and fallen north of the That Road parking lot for the Clear Creek Trail. (Just north of the bridge crossing the creek, east side of trail) The top most part of the fallen tree was blocking the access path on to the trail from the neighborhood, so my husband and I cut back the smaller limbs to clear the path, but the huge trunk (1/2 of tree) is hanging precariously just off the trail. Removal of the trunk (and possibly whole tree?) will need to be done by an experienced tree person. Concerned that kids hiking along trail might try to climb on the unstable trunk...

Case Date:

6/11/2018

Hi there! Not an issue per say but was curious: Is the Bloomington Walking Group still running? I swung by Olcott last Thurs to join and didn't see anyone. Would love to if it's still kickin' just let me know thanks :-)

Case Date:

7/5/2018

The showers in the women's (probably the men's also)restroom at Mills Pool need repaired

Case Date:

7/10/2018

To Whom It May Concern! I wanted to say thank you to the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department for trimming the low hanging branches on the two very large Oak trees near the entrance to Mills Pool off of Blair Ave. They not only look amazing, but its so much easier to access the park area under and around the trees when walking my dog. I know its much easier for the pool customers to use the sidewalk as well as get to their cars when parked along the curb on the exit of the main parking area. So, thank you. I'm asking and suggesting that the same tree limb pruning be done on the four very large Oak trees on the south end of the park area on the corner of Blair and Dyer. I, as a homeowner on Blair Ave. along with other residents use this area to walk our dogs and other outdoor activities. These branches are a hindrance to not only our enjoyment of the area, but to the city employee's who mow the park area. I've watched them navigate the low hanging branches so they don't get hit in the face and have to bend all the way over so their head is near their feet on the mower pedals just to mow the area. This seems very dangerous for them and I'm concerned for their safety as well as the overall ease of use for the area. Would you please consider pruning those limbs up just as you had done on the two trees to the north of the property. If you can do this and possibly while your at it, there is a very large yew right in front of the pool that had 3/4 of it removed last year. It's now a 1/4 of a living yew with nothing but weeds growing around it because it can't be mowed. This seems not only unsightly to the overall ambiance of the area, but really just dosen't look that good making the approach to Mills Pool rather uninviting. I did leave a voicemail with the Natural Resources Coordinator regarding this issue and had not heard anything. It's possible a plan is in place and I mention this so you can coordinate with that department. Once again, thank you for taking care of the two trees on the north end. They are truly majestic and make our community park and pool look magnificent. Gratefully! Mike Stribling mikestribling@hotmail.com 812-964-0846