Construction begins on park at Bloomington Cultural District         

[May 25, 2007]  BLOOMINGTON -- The Bloomington Cultural District begins construction this week of its second feature, a new festival park. The new green space is being created directly south of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, along northbound Business 51 between Mulberry and Douglas Streets in downtown Bloomington. The new park is projected to be completed by August.

Improvements to the area will include the removal of existing parking lots and driveways and transforming paved spaces into grassed areas. Trees, shrubs and flowers will border new sidewalks. A courtyard will link the performance center with the park, and decorative street lighting will be installed.

The improvements are enabled thanks to donations from local residents and businesses to the cultural district's capital campaign. Bloomington's Parks and Recreation and Engineering departments are also providing vital engineering and planting services to reduce project costs.

Approximately 80 truckloads of dirt have already been delivered to the site by the Parks and Recreation Department for use in re-grading the space, and more are on their way.

Elements of the project include:

• The block of Mulberry Street in front of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, between East Street and Business 51, will be closed permanently at the end of this week as crews tear out the bricks and concrete. This street area will ultimately become a part of the park space, including a pedestrian walkway and patio.

• In the coming weeks a re-curbing project will be completed on northbound Business 51. The right lane of traffic will be temporarily closed to complete that work.

• The block of East Street between the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and the McLean County Arts Center, as well as all of Mulberry Street to the west, will remain open during and after the construction.

Patrons attending upcoming events at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, including Exit 167's "Rubaroo" on June 2 and "A Disney Celebration," presented by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Dance Sensations on June 9, may have to enter the building by crossing temporary sidewalks or by using the box office entrance on East Street. Signs will be posted to assist patrons.

This work signals the first phase of development for the park area. A second phase will ultimately create a new festival stage, sponsored by CEFCU, for outdoor concerts, as well as the further development of other park areas.

[Text from file received from Bloomington Cultural District]