Many of the newly planted oak trees are showing signs of stress as the leaves are yellowing and browning. Will the City water these trees during this dry time? Several people are trying to water them with buckets, but it seems that there would be a better way to keep these trees healthy after investing so much in planting them.
On Saturday, June 25, 2022, around 6:38pm I was heading from the Showers parking lot to the B-Line Trail heading towards Rogers St. As I am heading down the trail I noticed a guy (tall about 5'10"-6'2", muscular, tan skin, dark shirt, bald head) standing next to a bike up ahead and he kind of moved just enough for me to see he had like a really firm stance. He was talking on a phone in a foreign language. and watching me closely. I stopped. Looked behind me to see if anyone else was walking nearby. A few ladies on bikes zoomed past but other than that it's just me and the dude standing there. He whistled twice pretty loud and just stood there facing me. Not wanting to turn around and walk back because I'm unsure of where to go or what to do, I didn't want to just walk past him, I'm scared. Like I can just feel it is a bad situation. I used a smart watch to call a friend and told her my location and asked her to stay on the phone. That way she knows where I'm at and is listening as I continue walking down the trail towards Rogers St.. As I pass the guy he is like standing arms folded and intensly watching my every move and still talking on the phone in the foreign language. As I continued walking I looked back a few times. It felt like he was following me but far enough back to look like he was still stopped. I could feel he was following me though. So I get up to Rogers St and cross the road and immediately notice a guy on the trail just a bit further down. He too is standing next to a bike and talking on the phone in a foreign language. He had on a striped tank top which was white with small horizontal stripes. He waved towards my direction/the trail across Rogers St.. I glance back and see the first guy nod his head. The second guy is now slowly walking towards me. I at this point am turning and walking the sidewalk going up Rogers St.. Once I started walking up the sidewalk neither of the individuals followed. The second guy did stand by the B-Line trail and the sidewalk a few minutes watching me. This event truly shook me up and has caused me to have a panyattack upon getting inside my apartment at B-Line heights. I did not contact the police because of previous incidents being casually "humored" but nothing be done because there was no true harm or attack that took place. I figured that this would be treated with the same disregard and I didn't want to waste their time. However there needs to be more surveillance on this part of the trail I believe. With the greenery being abundant and the buildings through that section of the B-Line Trail it feels fairly seculded and isolated. I feel if it was move visible it might have discouraged the above event from happening.
The grass on the city side of the ditch is waist high, last time this was cut the city threw a rock into the Storage Express window and I really don't want that to happen again. Can a crew get out to the ditch and trim it before we have another flood and the water has no where to go?!!!
While conducting volunteer creek & trail monitoring on June 20, came across a downed light pole with wiring, alongside the trail. Believe it as been inactive for some time. Shattered glass present from light fixture. Location: Along trail, heading south from the playground, pass the entrances to the two trails that lead to the waterfall and is before the next metal bridge. If needed, I can aim to return later this week, take a photo and then submit. Thank you!
Pictured above: the view from a bicycle seat as cyclist (on a bike path/sidewalk) approaches the circular loop at the southern end of the Grimes/Patterson parking lot. (Note: the problem I want to highlight is similar when cyclist is heading south towards that "roundabout" from the north on the bike/ped path). And the problem is this: a cyclist can easily not notice until too late that there is no curb cut to allow easy entry to the loop. YES, for safety reasons, the city probably decided NOT to be a curb cut there. Fine. BUT PLEASE, consider a very visible barrier so cyclists can see in advance that they should not proceed forward OR, at least, put some bright yellow paint or striped yellow-black paint on the curb as an attention grabber. Needed on both the south side of the loop and the north side. THANKS!
Low-lying branch (of a mulberry tree, I think) that extends over most of the trail and poses a danger for cyclists. LOCATION: on the trail that was built parallel to the original B-line when the latter needed to be closed because of construction/explosives. Maybe 1/2 or 2/3 of the way down that trail, but BEFORE (north of) where a trail spur leads west off the trail to head through the neighborhood. Wish I'd taken a photo.... There are several trees along that trail that could use a bit of a trim, but this one MUST be trimmed. A pruning sheers might be sufficient, but a hand saw might be useful as well.
There are mattresses, a small dresser, trash and broken down vehicle parked/abandoned at the northern trailhead on Dunn St. My neighbor says he saw a tent and campsite in the trail early this morning as well. I don't mind the squatter camping, but the excessive trash is unacceptable.
Regarding biking etiquette in Bloomington...my husband and I walk the wonderful trails almost daily, through all the seasons. We are truly appreciative of these trails. We are perplexed and sometimes frightened by the lack of biking etiquette displayed on the trails. Almost daily, we are startled by someone passing us at a high rate of speed without any warning. I have nearly "fallen off" the trail more than once. I am grateful I have not sprained an ankle...or worse (yet) I know there would be some cost involved, but honestly, isn't pedestrian safety worth it? I have serious osteoporosis. If I am hit, unwittingly, by a biker who did not show the common courtesy of giving an "on your left" warning" in time for us to move quickly out the way, it could be life-changing for me and many other walkers, especially the elderly. How about a sign posted in a prominent place on each trail educating bikers of their responsibility to ride responsibly? Sure, they may speed past the signs, but perhaps if posted where they are getting ready to ride, they may read them and consider the safety of the walkers they are speeding past (and sometimes weaving around) Of course the same should be assumed for electric vehicles. Walkers need, and deserve, a fair warning of anyone approaching. Let's not let someone break a hip or worse before we address this. Thank you for listening and for the work you do to make Bloomington an awesome place to live! Eileen Caird
Please do not build more paved trails unless City is willing to take care of what is already built. Never build a new addition to a house that is poorly maintained.
Entire trail system needs care. from Sherwood oaks park to trail around football field. Very overgrown, unsafe paved surface due to roots and thin pavement.