BLOOMINGTON — The Board of Park Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S. Rogers St., to review a proposed approach to investing in aging parks and recreation facilities and addressing maintenance needs across the system.
The Parks and Recreation Department will present its 2026 Investment Priorities Plan, which recommends projects for existing facilities, parks, playgrounds, and trails, and outlines strategies for funding those needs over the next several years. The plan is the only item on the special meeting agenda, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend and provide comments.
The plan serves as a supplement to the recently adopted 2026–2030 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and represents the next step in putting the Master Plan’s goals into practice. It draws on facility condition assessments, usage and cost recovery information, community engagement, and other data gathered during the master planning process.
Recommendations focus particularly on one of the Master Plan’s four main goals, “Invest in What We Have,” as the Department balances the needs of aging facilities with responsibility for parks and infrastructure added to the system in recent years.
Recommended Projects and Improvements
The Park Board will discuss recommendations across multiple city assets, including:
- Bryan Park Pool: Proposed facility improvements.
- Winslow Sports Park: Installing turf infields and LED lighting.
- Olcott Park: Replacing the existing playground.
- Banneker Community Center: Installing a new elevator.
- RCA Community Park: Adding pickleball courts.
- Cascades Golf Course: Replacing the irrigation system.
- Frank Southern Ice Arena: Reviewing long-term options for continued operation.
- Systemwide Infrastructure: Repairing trails across the system.
The plan also recommends gradually increasing the portion of the Department’s annual General Fund budget dedicated to capital needs. From 2016 through 2025, approximately 2.2% of General Fund expenditures went toward capital expenses. The proposed goal is to raise annual capital investment to at least 4% of the General Fund budget in 2028, 5% in 2029, and 6% in 2030.
Proposed 2027 Bond Focuses on Existing Assets
In preparing this plan, the Department has been exploring the potential issuance of a $7.3 million general obligation bond in 2027 to fund high-priority projects, with bond payments beginning in 2028. The report details a draft plan for allocating those funds.
Additionally, a recently announced statewide grant opportunity through the Indiana Community Parks Initiative—funded by the Lilly Endowment—may offer an additional funding pathway.
Other strategies outlined in the plan include evaluating the potential sale of the Parks-owned property at 349 S. Walnut St., pursuing corporate partnerships and sponsorships, and leveraging available revenues to maintain existing assets.
Public Input Invited
No final action on the Investment Priorities Plan will be taken during the special meeting. Following the presentation, Parks and Recreation will consider feedback and refine the plan before submitting it to a future meeting of the Park Board for formal adoption.
Community members may provide public comment in person during the meeting. Residents unable to attend will have an opportunity to review the document and submit feedback online after the meeting concludes.
