Water is permanently standing in the new large dog area of the Switchyard Park dog park. This has led to injuries among other issues with dogs (not to mention the huge mess this makes and destruction to the grounds of the park). Please remedy this situation as soon as possible. Thank you.
Taxpayers have spent 10’s to 100’s of million dollars on this area and the city is allowing the homeless to take over the park. There are several stolen shopping carts there. There is also personal possession and trash everywhere. There are also makeshift tents where people are spending the night. This is beyond frustrating given the amount of money the city has took in from taxpayers.
CHAPTER 257 Camping, Littering, and Storage of Personal Property on Monroe County Government Property 257-1. Unlawful Camping. Except as otherwise provided by ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to camp, occupy camp facilities, or use camp paraphernalia on any property owned or controlled by Monroe County, Indiana, government, including, without limitation: a. Any park; b. Any roadway; or, c. Any parking lot or other property, improved or unimproved, without the express permission of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Monroe, Indiana. 257-2. Unlawful Littering and Storage of Personal Property. Except as otherwise provided by ordinance, it shall be unlawful for any person to place trash, garbage, or solid waste or to store personal property, including, for example, camp facilities and camp paraphernalia on any property owned or controlled by Monroe County, Indiana, government, including, without limitation: a. Any park; b. Any roadway; or, c. Any parking lot or other property, improved or unimproved, without the express permission of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Monroe, Indiana. Photo taken 12/24/20 6:18 AM from Kroger parking lot.
Every since the parks department allowed tents at seminary park throughout the day there are increasingly large numbers of people not social distancing without mask in a small confined space. They are then dispersing throughout the community (Kroger, shalom, rally’s, etc...), once again not wearing mask. This is not what the CDC means when they say not to tear down homeless communities. It’s to prevent them spreading disease. Our homeless community still socializes without regard to others in the community and therefore not breaking up that tent camp is irrelevant to what the CDC recommends. Also there are tons of laws being broke at seminary park every day. The park is filled with trash, used needles, and feces just to name a few problems. Litter is blowing everywhere in the surrounding area. The law and rules apply to everyone in the community. Please hold everybody accountable! Failure to do so will impact Bloomington’s economy and slow the recovery through this pandemic.
I am deeply saddened that our City would remove the encampment in Seminary Square. Does every park have to be for the primary enjoyment of those who HAVE homes? Can't the homeless at least have primary use of THIS one? Are people so small-minded that they begrudge this just because they then aren't comfortable using it themselves? I walk by it all the time, and sure, it isn't as pretty as it could otherwise be, but how about considerations of justice? Let them enjoy the space! I know there may be more clean-up needed for city workers, but that is a cost we should be able to bear. Let's make it safer as needed by installing port-a-potties or whatever is needed. Bloomington supposedly cares so much about the housing problem that they are prepared to ruin historic neighborhoods (though I suspect this is mainly at the behest of developers), yet they won't allow homeless people to live in tents in Seminary Square??
RCA pickleball courts are confusing. Too many lines and too few courts. We've been playing pickleball and have to wait. 2 of the 4 courts have tennis and pickleball lines but is not set up for tennis. This makes it hard to play and is very confusing. Please remove the tennis lines. It would also be nice if you could increase the number of outdoor coats for pickleball. We're having to wait constantly to get on a court. Yet there's no one out playing tennis the four times I've been out to play pickleball. And there's two tennis courts to take up the same amount of space as the four pickleball courts. Thank you.
Homeless encampments in seminary park? Why is this allowed? I witnessed a man urinating in open air outside tent at 645 am while I was dropping mail. How is this happening? There are services all over town.
Was harassed in Kroger parking lot by people from seminary park. Asked for money, when I said no they aggressively tried to follow me. I had to run to my car to leave. Very unsafe area for Bloomington residents.
People spending the night in seminary park
The last couple of times we've visited the Switchyard park to play Bocce, the benches along the courts were overrun with people sleeping, drinking, and smoking. Not a very inviting or family friendly atmosphere. We also witnessed the same behaviours, along with what appeared to be drug use in the shelter house next to the playground. Will there be any enforcement of the rules at the park?