By Mayor Tim Busse
During the 2023 election, Bloomington voters approved a new half-percent sales tax to provide $155 million for renovations to Bloomington Ice Garden, a new community health and wellness center, and enhancing and protecting the Nine Mile Creek corridor, and Moir and Central parks. We’re now looking to the next phases of these projects and moving Bloomington forward.
The half-percent sales tax increase is scheduled to take effect on April 1. Here’s an overview of the status of each of the three projects.
Bloomington Ice Garden
The first project slated to break ground is the Bloomington Ice Garden renovation. Work will begin in early 2024 to prepare for new refrigeration equipment. Major construction is tentatively scheduled to begin spring 2025. The facility will close mid-March of that year with the goal of reopening at the end of 2025, in time for the next hockey season.
Community health and wellness center
The City will start community engagement on this project during summer 2024 to determine what programming and amenities a new center should include. Engagement activities and the design process will continue into 2025.
The community will have an active voice in this project. The end goal is for the new center to open in 2027.
Nine Mile Creek corridor
Spanning 240 acres, the Nine Mile Creek corridor is a beautiful slice of nature, featuring trails and many outdoor amenities that residents enjoy. Bloomington residents consistently rank Moir Park as one of the city’s top parks. They also consider natural resources a priority. The next step for the Nine Mile Creek corridor will be community engagement. Parks and Recreation leadership will begin this process this year.
Once dates for community engagement opportunities are set for these three projects, we’ll share that information online at bloomingtonforward.org, City social media channels and cable television, and in the Briefing.
