Building Trades Park Master Plan Highlights Accessibility

A Master Plan to guide the future development of Building Trades Park, a former stone quarry that became a city park in 1949, was presented to the Board of Park Commissioners at their regular meeting May 21.

Mader Design began work on the master plan in 2023, and conducted two different public input meetings and collected feedback from more than 200 individuals online to develop the master plan.

Parks and Recreation Administrator Tim Street said, "The final master plan is not a construction document; rather, we'll use the master plan to make cohesive decisions about construction in the park, and to ensure we are serving the needs of our neighbors and park users." 

The park's history as a stone quarry poses challenges for accessibility, with numerous grade changes throughout the park. Aging infrastructure, including picnic shelters and playground equipment installed in 2003, are included as needs to address. ​

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According to Street, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been allocated to address accessibility issues, with plans calling for reconstruction of a ramp that runs from the edge of the park at Second Street north to the picnic shelter.  Funds that remain following the ramp project may be used for a new, more visible and accessible picnic shelter.

Other concepts presented in the master plan are for pickleball courts, native plantings, a "skate spot" for skateboards, and space for public art. 

A new, one-acre urban park dubbed "Hopewell Commons" is scheduled to open in late 2024 south of Second Street, between South Rogers and South Morton Streets west of the Seminary Square Kroger. Hopewell Commons includes trees, a small lawn and greenspace, and a play structure, but will not have mature trees or sport courts like Building Trades Park to the north. Two parks in close proximity that offer a variety of active and passive use will benefit community members from surrounding neighborhoods and from the future Hopewell development on the site of the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital.

For more information about the Building Trades Park Master Plan or upcoming park improvement projects, contact Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 812-349-3700 or [email protected], or visit the Parks Project Update web page.