BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington is a vibrant community filled with activity. Each month there are numerous opportunities to enjoy and engage socially and civically. The City will provide monthly updates on what is happening in and within the City, and you will discover that no matter your interests or inclinations, there is something for everyone.
EVENTS
Hidden River Pathway Walking Tour
Date: Friday, May 5
Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Location: Meet at Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park, 331 S Washington St.
Please join the City of Bloomington Utilities for a guided tour of the Hidden River Pathway Project. We will take a shuttle to Sample Gates, then walk ½ mile over the culvert that carries Clear Creek beneath downtown Bloomington, learning fun facts about stormwater and recently completed upgrades to our underground infrastructure.
Register at https://forms.gle/dfCDsuhEkTQ9f6g87
The Art of Giving: An Event for Children
Date: Saturday, May 6
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Cost: $5
Location: Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St.
This family-friendly event shows grade school-age kids what gratitude means and helps them recognize the many opportunities they have to express it toward others on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, holidays, or simply just because! For ages 3-12 yrs. w/parent. More information at bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/concerts
50+ Expo
Date: Wednesday, May 10 (Rain date: Thursday, May 11)
Time: 3-6 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Location: Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St.
The community’s premier showcase of businesses and organizations whose products and services are geared toward Baby Boomers, seniors, caregivers and their friends and families. The event includes a large expo filled with exhibitors and free health screenings by local healthcare professionals. More information at bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/50expo
A Fair of the Arts
Date: Saturday, May 13
Time: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Location: Showers Common, 401 N. Morton St.
Bloomington Parks and Recreation hosts a celebration of art and community with sales, demonstrations, and displays of arts and fine crafts by local and regional artists.
More information at bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/a-fair-of-the-arts
Public Information Meeting: Resource Recovery Study
Date: Thursday, May 18
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Location: Monroe Convention Center. 302 S College Ave.
The city of Bloomington Utilities and the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District sponsored a study of the potential for energy and resource recovery from wastewater treatment sludge and other organic materials. The study indicates that a resource recovery facility could generate enough electricity to power the Dillman Road Wastewater Treatment Plant and reduce the amount of organic solids that go to landfill. Please join CBU and MCSWMD for a public information meeting to present the findings.
Link: https://bton.in/C1W4v
Peoples Park Concert Series
Date: Thursday, May 18 & Thursday, May 25
Time: 4:30-6 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Location: Peoples Park, 501 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Free, live performances by local and regional musicians and performers.
May 18: Sofia Crespo, a traditional dance from Spain
May 25: Rearview Rhonda, a local indie rock/punk band
More information at bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/concerts
Summer Launch Party
Date: Saturday, May 20
Time: 3-6 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Location: Bryan Park, 1001 S Henderson St.
Start your summer off right with a party in Bryan Park! Sample programs, events, and activities hosted by Bloomington Parks and Recreation this summer. For all ages.
More information at bloomington.in.gov/parks/events/a-fair-of-the-arts
PROGRAMS
Outdoor Fitness Classes in Switchyard Park
Date: Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays, May 1 through June 18
Mondays at 7 p.m.: Tai Chi
Tuesdays at 7 p.m.: ZUMBA
Fridays at noon: Beginning Yoga
Cost: $5 per class, or buy a 10-class pass for $45
Location: Switchyard Park Main Stage
Bloomington’s favorite fitness instructors lead outdoor classes for all ages and fitness levels. No registration is required; just show up and pay the $5 per class admission with cash, check, or credit card. For more information, contact Shelby Drake at 812-349-3700 or shelby.drake@bloomington.in.gov.
Night Paddle
Date: Friday, May 5
Time: 8:30-10 p.m.
Cost: $12/Bloomington residents, $15/non-city residents
Location: Griffy Lake Nature Preserve; meet at the boathouse.
Experience an evening of peace and serenity under the full moon on Griffy Lake! Watercraft, paddles, and life jackets are provided. Register by April 28.
More information and registration at: https://bton.in/zFRUw
Healthy Soil, Healthy Garden
Date: Wednesday, May 10
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Cost: $10/Bloomington residents, $12/non-city residents
Location: Butler Park Community Gardens
Learn about the importance of healthy soils, methods that improve soil health, and how to test your garden soil to better understand its composition and needs. Register by May 7. More information and registration at: https://bton.in/M60kZ
Sunset Paddle
Date: Thursday, May 18
Time: 8-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $12/Bloomington residents, $15/non-city residents
Location: Griffy Lake Nature Preserve; meet at the boathouse.
Enjoy the sunset from the water on Griffy Lake! Watercraft, paddles, and life jackets are provided. Register by May 11. More information and registration at: https://bton.in/fMYnt
Birdwatching for Beginners
Date: Saturday, May 20
Time: 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Cost: $3/Bloomington residents, $5/non-city residents
Location: Leonard Springs Nature Park; meet in the parking lot
Take a leisurely walk with a naturalist and look for some of the many different kinds of birds in our ecosystem. Binoculars and field guides are provided. Register by May 16. More information and registration at: https://bton.in/_NIsB
SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Learn to Paddle
Date: Saturday, May 27
Time: Multiple sessions; see registration link for additional information
Cost: $20/Bloomington residents, $25/non-city residents
Location: Griffy Lake Nature Preserve; meet at the boathouse.
This introductory paddleboard class is for those who want to learn to stand-up paddle. For ages 8 years and up, participants age 14 years and younger must be accompanied by a registered adult. Life jackets, paddles, and paddleboards are provided.
More information and registration at: https://bton.in/2mwTJ
Remembering Nancy Hiller: Preservationist, Writer, Woodworker, Ethicist
Date: May 26, 2023
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 N Morton St., Room 115
In this year’s annual Rosemary Miller Lecture, Duncan Campbell remembers Nancy Hiller and her deep commitment to historic preservation, the written word, fine woodworking, and personal ethics. A stalwart member of the Bloomington community, Nancy’s advocacy, good humor, and personal touch were felt by everyone she met; and her writing, furniture, and model of ethical citizenship reached well beyond Bloomington. Few have done as much for preservation, or spread its word as far, but it was her readiness to so elegantly share her life’s work and intimate self-examination in her writing that truly set her apart.
Duncan Campbell is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, and has made his home in Bloomington since 1970. Campbell majored in history and received a Master of Science degree in historic preservation from Columbia University. He has served on Bloomington’s Historic Preservation Commission from 1992 to 2008, and co-authored the city’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. He recently retired as an associate professor of architecture and Director of the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation at Ball State University’s College of Architecture & Planning where he taught multiple courses. In retirement, Duncan serves on the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission as an advisory member, the Monroe Co. Historic Preservation Board of Review, and is an active board member of the Indiana Barn Foundation.
SHOUTOUTS
May is Historic Preservation Month!
Follow the Historic Bloomington Instagram account at: instagram.com/historicbloomington
Download and use Bloomington’s self-guided historic-themed brochures at: bton.in/LB7uX
Verify if your property or one of your favorite spots in town is in a local, state, or federal historic district! Find out the historic rating of your building at: bton.in/M_pUv
Residents Academy Application is Open
Interested in becoming more engaged in the community? The Residents Academy might be just what you’re looking for. In this fun and educational 10-week program, participants will learn about the challenges faced by the city government as it balances budget limitations with community goals and service needs. Sessions will also cover topics such as day-to-day operations, the structure, and function of City departments, the role of City Council, resident involvement in boards and commissions, innovative approaches to problem-solving, and goals for the future. The Residents Academy will run on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m., August 24 through October 26, 2023. Learn more at: https://bton.in/qrUZU
Donate your invasive or undesirable trees to the ZOO!
The City of Bloomington is partnering with the Indianapolis Zoo to provide food for the animals while eliminating invasive and undesirable plants from the Bloomington landscape. Residents can sign up to donate cut vegetation to the Zoo by visiting https://bton.in/a9aE4. Please read the instructions carefully, then sign up for an open pickup date today!
OPERATING HOURS
Animal Shelter Adoption Center
3410 S Walnut Street
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from noon-4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from noon-3 p.m.
Banneker Community Center
930 W 7th Street
Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Bryan Park Pool
1020 S Woodlawn Ave.
Opens for the 2023 swimming season Saturday, May 27, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Bryan Park Pool is open daily through Aug. 1 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission is $6 per person. Children age 3 yrs, and younger are admitted free.
For information on hours of operation and weather-related closings, call the Aquatics Hotline at 812-349-3741.
City of Bloomington
401 North Morton Street
City Hall is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, except during holidays. Non-holiday City Hall closings are announced on the City’s home page and social media. City services can still be accessed online at bloomington.in.gov/services.
City offices are closed on Primary Election Day: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Griffy Lake Nature Preserve
3400 N Headley Rd
Boathouse is open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. beginning May 1. Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are available for rent for $9 an hour. Reservations are recommended; to reserve a watercraft, call the Griffy Lake boathouse at 812-349-3732 or email griffy.boathouse@bloomington.in.gov.
Mills Pool
1100 W 14th St.
Opens for the 2023 swimming season Saturday, May 27, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Mills Pool is open daily through July 30 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission is $6 per person. Children age 3 yrs, and younger are admitted free.
For information on hours of operation and weather-related closings, call the Aquatics Hotline at 812-349-3741.
Community Foundation Switchyard Plaza Spray Pad at Switchyard Park
1601 S. Rogers St
Opens for the 2023 season Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
The spray pad is open daily through Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Admission is free. For information on hours of operation and weather-related closings, call the Aquatics Hotline at 812-349-3741.
Twin Lakes Recreation Center Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-10 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
1700 W. Bloomfield Road
Daily non-member admission $8
Twin Lakes Recreation Center is a sports, fitness, and recreation facility with a ⅛ mile indoor track, cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines, functional fitness area, and five hardwood courts. Courts are open for pickleball Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn more about TLRC memberships and group exercise classes at twinlakesrecreation.com
