Miller-Showers Park

Miller-Showers Hydraulic Dredging and Disposal Project - City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU)

The City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) has the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the detention pools at Miller-Showers Park for the purpose of stormwater management. A dredging project to remove an estimated 2,900 cubic yards of sediment from 5.56 acres of open water in two ponds at Miller-Showers Park is scheduled to begin June 27, 2024. The dredging project will ensure the ponds maintain their capacity to capture stormwater, slow its flow to allow litter, sediment, and other solids to settle out of the water before the water continues downstream to Griffy Creek.

The Utilities Service Board at their March 11, 2024 meeting approved a contract with Kokomo, Ind.-based Merrell Bros., Inc. with a base bid of $419,350. Funding for this project will come from the CBU budget. 

Bicentennial Gateway

One of the discussions of the first City Park Board meeting in 1921 concerned the acquisition of this narrow strip of land. Originally the Jacob & Loretta Miller Homestead, it was purchased by the city in 1929 for $1. It contains two notable sculptures: "Axis" and "Red, Blond, Black, and Olive."

Miller-Showers Park was awarded a Community Enhancement Award in October 2004 by the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, and was presented with an Outstanding Project Award by the Indiana Urban Forest Council in October 2005.

Miller-Showers Park underwent significant renovations completed in 2004 that transformed the area from an often flooded and little-used strip of land to a state-of-the-art stormwater retention facility and beautiful gateway to the city of Bloomington. The Park's large holding ponds retain stormwater that drain from more than 170 acres of downtown Bloomington. A 3/5 mile accessible, multi-use trail circles the Park and allows views of the ponds and sculptures from all sides. A pier, pedestrian bridge, and interpretive signage complete the picture.