With the hot weather recently we've been taking our small children to the switchyard park playground earlier in the morning to beat the heat. It's really baffling as to why the restrooms here don't open until 10:00 AM. There are a lot of families on the playground before then that would really appreciate restroom access for small children.
We joined an event Sunday, 9/17. It was advertised as a muscial event at the Main Performance Stage. I had several handicapped people to transport there. There was NO map of Switchyard park. There was no accessibility information. There was no information about a drop off place for people in wheelchairs or walkers. A map showing walkways, accessibility entrances, and all venues for Switchyard is needed!
I took my 5yr old daughter to the park restroom and there was a used syringe in the trash bin. It was out in the open laying on top. The bathroom was a wreck. I told her not to touch anything and not to use the bathroom. This is 2nd time in two weeks 2 different parks. We have to do something. Next time I experience this I will send photos to the Bloomingtonian and the local news. Maybe take the monolith money and spend it on some type of safety at these parks. Sincerely One pissed off Dad!!!
Request for bike racks on either the east or west side of the splash pad restroom building. Our run club meets here and the nearest bike racks are next to the playground south of here. We have a decent number of cyclists during the summer who would all use these racks during our runs on Mondays/Wednesdays. I bike year round and so this would be a great quality of life upgrade for me personally as well. Thanks for the consideration!
Our run club meets at 6pm Mondays and Wednesdays and leaves for our run at 6:05pm. The restrooms (scheduled to close at 6pm) typically close at 5:55pm. It would REALLY help our members out if those restrooms could stay open until 6:15pm on those nights of the week - Monday and Wednesday. Thanks!
Can the city do something about the very large homeless encampments on both sides of switchyard park - B-Line trail near the dog parks. I like to bring my dogs to the dog park, but am uncomfortable with such a big encampment of homeless so close to the park and the kids play grounds as well. There’s a lot of trash blowing around on at both encampments and this afternoon they had open “camp” fires burning. As a single women with my dogs, I have to say I’m very uncomfortable walking my dogs on the B-line in Switchyard park and using the dog park with so many homeless camping in the immediate area of Switchyard park. Thank you.
A large group of my friends and I have red, painful chemical burns from the grass. I can still see imprints of individual blades of grass on my legs after 4 days. The chemicals used are far too strong and this is unacceptable for a public park where children play.
I’m a frequent user of Switchyard park, but I’m very unhappy with the state of the parking lot on Walnut St. I’ve seen city employees out working in the area several times, but it’s still unsightly. The beds are sparse and bare-looking. It appears as though the working crew has mulched around Johnson grass - an invasive grass - and tall fescue. Does the landscaper not know the difference between invasive and ornamental grasses? Not only this, the hills south of the stage area around the playground and dog park are filled with thistles, Johnson grass, and other invasives. Is the city’s flagship park not worth landscaping maintenance? Considering that this is the city’s most beloved, brag-worthy park and it still looks awful, I’m hesitant to visit other parks.
the bricks under most picnic benches (if not all!) are spotted with stuff that looks disgusting, and attracts flies.
The placement of the entry/exit gates at the new dog park is difficult for a lot of dogs/dog owners since, in order to enter/exit the dog park from the main park entrance, you have to walk past the entire dog park fence to get to and from the entry gate on the south end. If there was a gate at the north end of the dog park, it would avoid a lot of escalated barking/fearful dogs which could lead to dangerous situations like dog bites and would be a lot more user friendly.