Bryan Park and Griffy Lake Improvements Increase Accessibility; Improvements to Olcott Blvd.; Bloomington is Brighter with Cleaning and Energy Efficient Lighting

Bloomington, Ind. - Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington. The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress.

PARKS & RECREATION

Bryan Park

Bryan Park Perimeter Trail Improvements are underway. Two new boardwalks were built on the north side of Bryan Park to protect tree roots and improve drainage. Other improvements include new paved connections between the westernmost boardwalk and the Bryan Park fitness station and a new accessible paved connection to the North Picnic Shelter. Work on the perimeter trail is ongoing. During the week of May 2-7, contactors expect to finish the base asphalt work and begin an asphalt overlay of the entire 0.8-mile trail. The trail will reopen when the asphalt overlay is complete. Following the completion of the asphalt resurfacing, new concrete curb ramps with detectable warnings will be poured at the Henderson Street parking lot entrance and the southeast corner of the park. Learn more about the project at bloomington.in.gov/parks/parks/bryan-park/trails.

Griffy Lake Accessible Fishing Pier and Loop Trail

Griffy Lake boathouse closed May 2 for final resurfacing of Headley Road, which already reopened to one-way north flow traffic. The road will reopen to two-way traffic when the new guardrail is installed. The Griffy Lake Loop Trail & Accessible Fishing Pier project will create a quarter-mile multiuse path on the westside of Headley Road to connect the northern and southern trails around Griffy Lake and will create an accessible fishing pier directly west of the existing Griffy Lake Nature Preserve parking lot. This will improve accessibility and pedestrian safety as visitors will be able to access the trails along the western portion of the lake by walking along a separated path, rather than along the road. Work is ongoing and a ribbon cutting to introduce the completed accessible fishing pier and Headley Road path is tentatively planned for July or August. Learn more about the project at bloomington.in.gov/node/3512.

ENGINEERING

17th (Monroe to Grant) Multiuse Path

Construction is anticipated to start next week on 17th Street between North Walnut and Grant Street. During construction, which is expected to be completed by August, the westbound lane of 17th Street will be closed to through traffic and a detour will be installed that uses Dunn Street to the Bypass to College Avenue. This phase is part of a larger project that improves 17th Street; improvements include constructing a multiuse path along the north side of the street, constructing accessible sidewalk curb ramps, resurfacing the street, and replacing the existing traffic signal at the intersection of 17th Street at Madison Street/Kinser Pike. The improvements are part of the City’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and quality of life for all residents. Learn more about the project at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/17thpath.

UTILITIES

Hidden River Pathway Project

Grant Street north of 4th Street is expected to close as part of the Hidden River Pathway Project, which is a two-year reconstruction project of the downtown stormwater infrastructure that prevents flooding during rain events. The culverts that currently carry stormwater beneath Bloomington’s downtown are some of the oldest storm sewers in the city and over the course of the whole project, 1,829 feet of culverts will be reconstructed, protecting residential and commercial buildings in Bloomington’s vibrant downtown as well as increasing our climate resilience by improving our ability to manage and mitigate the effects of extreme precipitation. Learn more about the project at bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.

PUBLIC WORKS

Street Paving

The City Street Division will be milling and paving Olcott Blvd between E. Winston to Mulberry Lane. Work is expected to be ongoing between 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, weather permitting from April 20, 2022, to May 6, 2022. 

Downtown Cleanup

In anticipation of the May 7 Indiana University graduation, The City Facilities Division, in collaboration with the Bloomington Board of Realtors (BBOR), Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, and Downtown Bloomington Inc. (DBI) did a downtown cleanup on Saturday, April 30. Crews with the Brighten B-Town initiative, a partnership among three City departments -- Parks and Recreation, Utilities, and Public Works will be present this weekend as well to prepare for the influx of visitors during IU graduation. 

Lighting Replacements

Outdoor lighting replacement began on Monday in the City Hall/Showers Building employee lot. Lights are being replaced with new energy-efficient LED fixtures. This energy-efficient update supports the City’s Climate Action Plan.