City Parks Department to Unveil Final Design for Goat Farm Park Amenities at Open House Nov. 1

The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department and staff from Mader Design are hosting an open house at the Goat Farm barn, 2000 E. Winslow Rd., on Nov. 1 from 4:30 until 6 p.m. Members of the public are invited to drop by at any time during the open house to see the final plans for additions and upgrades to Goat Farm amenities that will enhance the visitor experience while maintaining the park's natural feel.

The 31.5-acre Goat Farm property was donated to the Bloomington Parks Foundation by the Sherman Rogers family in 2007. The Parks Foundation deeded the property to the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department in 2009. Provisions in the property's deed indicate the only allowable "development" of the park is for public recreation and publicly accessible greenspace.

A donation to the Bloomington Parks Foundation in January 2021 allowed for the creation of an updated design plan for upgrading and adding seating, shade structures, and accessible trails.

Following a public meeting in April 2021, and after collecting in-person and online feedback from park neighbors, the donors, and other community members, the Parks and Recreation Department worked with Mader Design to modify the original design concepts. The updated design to be presented at the open house includes plans to expand the native prairie, widen and pave existing trails, add additional trails to improve accessibility, and to add picnic tables, shade structures, and seating around the Goat Farm barn.

According to Tim Street, Operations and Development Division Director for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, construction details and documents are in development, and no construction date has been determined.

Following the open house on Nov. 1, the updated design plans will be available for review online at bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks/goat-farm.

For more information about the Goat Farm property or updated design, contact Tim Street at tim.street@bloomington.in.gov or (812) 349-3706