BLOOMINGTON– The Bicentennial gateway, which will welcome people to Bloomington from the city’s north side, is scheduled for completion in late 2024.
The Board of Park Commissioners reviewed contracts to prepare the site on the north end of Miller-Showers Park, 1500 N. College Ave., for the Bicentennial gateway and a public art element, build the limestone gateway wall, and fabricate and install metal lettering and LED lighting on the gateway at their June 25, 2024 meeting.
Following public feedback, the final gateway design concept introduced in January 2024 incorporates stacked limestone blocks and the word “Bloomington” in backlighted letters mounted to the limestone.
The Board approved a supplement to the $575,000 July 2023 Reed & Sons contract for $79,462 to cover modifications to the original site improvements necessitated by additional sidewalk work and the redesigned gateway. After a separate bid process for the updated gateway, Reed & Sons was also awarded a second contract for $249,750 to fabricate and install the limestone gateway wall.
Bo-mar Industries of Beech Grove was selected in May 2023 to fabricate the original vertical gateway element. For the redesigned gateway, Bo-mar instead designed the metal lettering and LED lighting and was awarded a contract for $65,000 for its fabrication and installation.
As part of the redesign and in response to the public’s desire for art in this space, the Bloomington Arts Commission (BAC) will solicit design proposals for an additional public art piece located about 60 feet north of the gateway wall. The BAC will receive $125,000 from the Bicentennial Bond fund to solicit, select, and install a piece of public art in this location. The BAC will make further announcements on this art piece.
Funding for the Bicentennial Gateway comes from a series of municipal bonds approved by a vote of the City Council in October 2018. A total of $1.25 million was earmarked for the design and construction of the city gateway. With the exclusion of the additional funds to the BAC, which will come from proceeds of the same Bicentennial Bond account, the project is expected to remain within the original budget.
