City Finalizes Kirkwood Street Closures for 2025 Pedestrian Season

Weather permitting, the City of Bloomington will begin setting up for Kirkwood Avenue’s Pedestrian Season from March 31 to April 3. The seasonal closure officially starts on Friday, April 4 and will run through November 10, 2025. It will transform portions of Kirkwood Avenue into shared, pedestrian-friendly spaces for dining, walking, and local events.

This year’s configuration includes the following closures:

• 100 block: Western half-block closure
• 200 block: Remains open to preserve access to alleyway parking
• 300, 400, and 500 blocks: Fully closed to vehicles

The half-block closure on the 100 block follows a detailed review by City engineering, parking, and public works staff. A full closure was evaluated, but neither option met safety and compliance standards. Key concerns included blocked access to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater lot and nearby private parking. City staff determined a half-block closure is the most equitable and feasible solution.

New ADA parking spaces and loading zones were recently installed. All removed ADA spaces on Kirkwood have been replaced and more ADA spaces have been added to improve downtown accessibility.

Several convenient parking options are downtown, including metered street parking, surface lots, and public parking garages. Parking meters and pay stations are enforced Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and are free on Sundays and all official City of Bloomington holidays. Payment can be made via ParkMobile or with coins.

Free on-street parking is available in designated areas, including two-hour parking on Rogers Street (5th-11th), Washington Street (2nd-3rd), and Lincoln Street (3rd-Smith), as well as 24/7 free parking on Grant Street (2nd-Smith) and Madison Street (2nd-3rd). IU continues to offer free parking on weekday evenings, weekends, holidays, and university breaks. 

The Pedestrian Season Program was created to boost economic activity, enhance walkability, and support flexible outdoor use of public space in downtown Bloomington.

Nine businesses have applied to participate in this year’s program. Five seek to utilize full street conversion: Nick’s English Hut, Lennie’s, Uptown Café, Farm Bloomington, and Village Deli.

Four more have applied for parklets: Orbit Room, BuffaLouie’s, Metal Works Brewing Company, and Crazy Horse. A parklet is a section of parking spaces turned into an outdoor dining area.

City staff continue to work with participants to ensure their plans meet safety and design requirements.

City staff are also working with businesses to organize seasonal activations, including potential pop-up markets and events. While details are not finalized, these opportunities will invite the community to gather and enjoy Kirkwood’s outdoor spaces.

For ongoing updates or details on participation, visit bloomington.in.gov/business/outdoor-dining.

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