closed #202973
Other
Seminary Park Bloomington
- Case Date:
- 5/27/2025
People are living in the park again. There is a tent like structure blocking the stairs.
People are living in the park again. There is a tent like structure blocking the stairs.
There is a homeless camp. I'm behind wheeler that goes up behind almost to the gas station up on 3rd. Several individuals camping back there. It's the same camp that was taken down last year is being rebuilt. Individuals are disturbing the peaceful enjoyment of the residents of the area. They harass the residents. Also having a lot of issues with petty theft in the area because of them.
Hi there, I have noticed a large increase in homeless activity in Bloomington this year. In the past, homeless individuals have largely remained in Seminary Park. Now, I see them camped in the park by Hartzell’s on Kirkwood, up by the square further north on Walnut, and even in Bryan Park. Homelessness is a complex problem and individuals in this situation face unfathomable challenges, but many of my peers and I feel their presence in social areas of Bloomington has negatively impacted the safety and cleanliness of the city. Just yesterday, I witnessed a homeless man harass a girl sitting in Brother’s Bar and Grill by slapping the window as if he was slapping her bottom through the window. It made me feel unsafe in my Bloomington home. Similarly, the park near Hartzell’s on Kirkwood is no longer an inviting place to eat ice cream with friends due to the mess left by homeless populations in this area. I am so sorry for their situation and challenges they face, but I do not want the homeless epidemic to impact the value and vibrance of the many lovely green spaces in Bloomington. For these reasons, I wanted to express my concerns about the spread of homelessness in Bloomington this past year and implore you to seek solutions for the issue. I am not an expert in social services or rehabilitation, so I am not sure if there are solutions to this problem, but I hope the city of Bloomington will take my concerns to heart to both help the homeless and improve the safety and well-being of Bloomington. Thank you
There are people doing drugs and sleeping in the mini barn in back of the empty house. I’m afraid and the police wouldn’t come out because I don’t own the property.
Two pianos are at the intersection of S. Swain and 2nd Street and should be removed.
There appears to be a small homeless camp in the backyard behind the unoccupied house with a tent and two abandoned vehicles. The house itself has been vacant for many years and none of the people staying there seem to be entering the home. A relative of the people who own the house, a man named Bob, began staying in the backyard over a year ago, but he has since left and other people are now staying there in his absence. Recently, neighbors have found human feces and needles in their yard nearby, creating sanitary concerns, as well as heard a woman yelling in what sounded like distress at night. Outreach to the family of the property owner has not been successful so far, so I’m hoping someone could please look into this situation. Thank you!
I have been smelling smoke in the evenings that I believe may be coming from homeless encampments along the Rail Trail, the gravel road parallel to the Rail Trail, and other City Property in the woods. The homeless were already removed from these city properties. The City needs to continue to monitor this area and enforce city ordinances and other rules and laws against camping there. Check the entire stretch of woods from Country Club Drive to Gordon Pike and kick everyone out immediately. Do not let this problem continue, as it was a major issue in 2024 with dangerous fires, numerous police searches for armed and wanted individuals living and hiding in the camps, fights between homeless, and a general threat to the health and safety of any citizen using the trail system. Please investigate and continue to monitor to make sure there are no homeless camps now or in the future in that area of the city. It is a horrible problem to allow it to get rooted in the woods there, so stop it as soon as possible.
I have a question for city staff. Is the city going to have another mask mandate due to flu outbreak? Have there been any discussions? Thank you.
I want to discuss the Homelessness problem. Please call me back.
At 10:04pm on Monday, June 2, 2025, I observed an older white SUV go from the west bound lane of Country Club into the east bound lane of traffic head on, then back up into the gravel/grassy area on the south side of Country Club and east of the Rail Trail parking lot. There is a gravel road that runs parallel to the Rail Trail there. I also saw headlights from a second vehicle facing north on the gravel road further down to the south, which would have been beyond where the gate is located that should keep vehicles out of that area. These appear to be homeless people. They need to be removed and that area needs to be secured so that no homeless people can drive vehicles back into the woods and live along the road. That part of City Property has already been subject to eviction and cleared out. The homeless need to be removed immediately from anywhere and everywhere along the entire stretch of the Rail Trail from Country Club to Gordon Pike, as well as anywhere along the gravel road running parallel to it. This area needs to be continuously monitored so they do not return.