City of Bloomington To Purchase Parcels At Lower Cascades For Greenspace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2008

For more information, please contact:
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov
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Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington will add 6.15 acres of land near Lower Cascades Park to its greenspace inventory pending approval by the City Council. The purchase of two parcels of land that will connect the Lower Cascades Ball Field with the park proper has already been approved by the Parks Board of Commissioners.

Since 2004, the City has added 11 properties totaling more than 123 acres of greenspace. Mayor Mark Kruzan stressed the significance of the purchase as well as the importance of further adding to the City's inventory.

"Preservation and enhancement of our community's natural infrastructure are extremely important to the City," said Kruzan. "We are very pleased that, thanks to the hard work of our staff and the vision of the Parks Board, we'll be able to expand Lower Cascades Park and preserve this land for future generations."

Funding for the purchase will come from the Parks Greenspace Acquisition Fund in the amount of $510,000. All expenditures from the fund must be approved by the Parks Board before being presented to the Bloomington City Council for confirmation. The proposal will be heard before the Council on September 17, with a final vote scheduled for October 1.

City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Director Mick Renneisen echoed the Mayor's enthusiasm for the pending purchase.

"We're thrilled that we were able to purchase the two remaining commercial properties in the Lower Cascades area," Renneisen said. "It not only brings connectivity to Lower Cascades Park, but ensures the preservation of another of Bloomington's natural landscapes."

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