Environmental Commission’s 2007-2011 Bloomington Greenspace Trends Report Data Released

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 5, 2014

For more information, please contact:

Linda Thompson, Senior Environmental Planner, Planning and Transportation Department, City of Bloomington, 349.3423, thompsol@bloomington.in.gov

Environmental Commission's 2007-2011 Bloomington Greenspace Trends Report Data Released

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington's Environmental Commission found promising data in its Greenspace Report covering the years 2007 - 2011. Based on inventories starting in 1993, Bloomington has been losing its greenspace through the years. However, [this report|/media/media/application/pdf/19821.pdf] marks the first time in Bloomington's history that the city has gained greenspace rather than lost it.

The city's greenspace is divided into four categories: IU greenspace, park greenspace, non-IU/non-park greenspace and total greenspace. From 2007 to 2011, IU greenspace decreased 0.4%, losing 5.39 acres and resulting in a total of 1,216.64 acres. Park greenspace increased 6.2%, gaining 85.34 acres for a new total of 1,461.47 acres. Non-IU/non-park greenspace decreased 1.9%, losing 71.09 acres, which brings its total to 3,760.08 acres. Finally, the overall total greenspace in Bloomington comes to 6,438.19 acres. This is an increase of 0.1%, or 8.86 acres, compared to the overall total in 2007.

This increase is impressive considering the previous reports illustrating an overall total decrease in greenspace. Linda Thompson, Senior Environmental Planner noted, "Although the increase is small, it is undoubtedly encouraging to see Bloomington gain greenspace compared to previous years." The main reason for the gain is due to the City's Parks and Recreation Department acquiring more greenspace than the other categories lost.

The Environmental Commission advises the City of Bloomington on how its actions and policies may preserve and enhance the quality of Bloomington's environment, including the life-supporting processes that natural ecological systems provide to humans and other organisms. For more information, please [visit the website|/environment].

For more information on the Greenspace Trends Report 2007-2011, contact the Planning and Transportation Department at 349.3423 or [visit the website|/planning].

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