There was bad storm that started about 11:30pm May 10th. The storm knocked down a huge tree in the wooded area next to my apartment. The tree was knocked down into the trail that runs around Twin Lakes so there is no access through anymore.
The trail that runs around Winslow Park has a large rotted tree that is likely to fall onto the trail. It is roughly where the trail goes behind 2824 s Wexley rd
There is about a 6 inch piece of rebar sticking out of the ground alongside the west side of the trail, right by one of the ground lights. It should be removed or cut down. The trail is heavily trafficked and someone could be injured if they trip or catch the edge of the trail right here. Photo attached.
A HUGE THANK YOU!! to the folks who cleared the trail behind Creeks Edge!! It was a serpentine walk most days and now no more ducking and weaving!! THANK YOU!!
Limb down on the Rail Trail about 1/2 mile south of Country Club.
The trail on the north side of Winslow from Allendale to Abby Ln has trees and other greenery hanging down and into the trail, so you end up having to walk through the grass.
A few weeks ago, I noticed that there were some limestone slabs put on the rail trail entrance near Gordon Pike to keep away the cars that I had seen driving back there. Then I went on a run with my dad back there and we noticed that all of the tents seemed to be gone. I was excited that it seemed like that area was being cleaned up, however people are back to living on the newer trail that runs parallel to the rail trail. There have been only two incidents where I have tried to run on the rail trail and turned around both times because I felt unsafe. Both times, I heard someone yelling sounding agitated from the encampment on the trail. I would love to run on the Rail Trail because it is a beautiful trail and perfectly shaded for hot summer runs, but I just don't feel safe. I realize that this is a bigger issue to solve, but it is just frustrating to me that I cannot utilize that trail, even if I am with someone else, because I just don't feel safe. It is disappointing that Bloomington has beautiful parks and trails that people don't want to use because they feel unsafe.
The Rail Trail needs some work! It needs YOU to show it some love. There are some problems . . . FIRST: Entering the Rail Trail from Country Club, the trees / shrubs at the parking lot are overgrowing into the sidewalk / path along the parking lot. You can almost not see the handicap parking sign from the overgrowth, too. The sidewalk is being impeded horizontally as well as vertically from branches hanging down. SECOND: There are numerous low hanging branches between Country Club and Gordon Pike on the trail. On a bicycle, these require ducking or maneuvering around. This can be hazardous. THIRD: There is a dead tree that is leaning over the trail, resting its top on another tree across the trail. That is between Country Club and Gordon Pike. This is maybe 1/3 to 1/2 a mile south of the Country Club Drive parking lot. This seems like it is ripe for falling on someone or blocking the trail, as it hangs there perilously. FOURTH: Someone goofed and put oversized gravel on the trail to fix some holes. This gravel is not safe on the trail for multiple reasons. One reason is that it is looser than the other gravel, so it is a change in surface that can cause bikes or walkers to lose balance. Also, the gravel is bigger so it is tougher to ride or walk or run across, and could cause injuries. As a result, people swerve around it and try to avoid it. This is causing people going in one direction to impede those going in the other at times. Can we get some smaller gravel / fill that matches the existing bed of the trail put in place? Having that big gravel is a total disaster creating multiple problems. I've almost lost balance / control on my bike in that bigger gravel. It needs to be replaced ASAP.
Hello -- where the parking lot and sidewalk end and the Rail Trail begins (at the trailhead on Country Club Drive), there is a growing issue. The height difference between the trail and the sidewalk is becoming a real trip hazard for pedestrians, an accessibility issue for others, and a flat tire waiting to happen for cyclists. Is there a way to get this fixed up a bit? But please, please, do NOT use giant gravel. The parts of the Rail Trail that were patched with giant gravel are a disaster. Leave the bump instead of using big gravel if that is the only set of options.
This is why we can't have nice things . . . Why is this big gravel on the Rail Trail? The nice, even, soft surface of the trail has something like 3 or 4 sections where this big gravel was tossed on the trail and now it is a real issue. The big gravel is unstable for runners and walkers. The big gravel hurts the pads of dogs. And, the big gravel is a disaster to ride a bicycle across on a commute into downtown. This needs to be repaired with the big gravel gone and smaller gravel to match the existing trail surface used. You wouldn't patch a section of the B-Line with wood planks, so why mess up the rail trail like this?